Carolinas Best

Golden Mummies at NC Museum of Art

2021-06-13T16:43:00.001-05:00

We of the modern world find mummies both fascinating and horrible. These dead bodies seem to hold out some secret knowledge of a world beyond our own. So carefully wrapped and prepared, they have survived the millennia, speaking to us of a different way of life and a different belief in the afterlife. But one thing everyone associates with mummies - gold - the skin of the gods.

Golden mummies have exerted a fascination on the modern world. We have movies about mummies; books about mummies. Is it any wonder that museums around the world have them on exhibit?

The current exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) brings the Golden Mummies of Egypt from the Manchester Museum in England for their first appearance in an American museum. Manchester's collection of mummies is the result of years worth of digs by early archeologist William Flinders Petrie, who began excavating the Hawara site in 1888. He found literally hundreds of mummies but kept only the gilded ones, and mummies displaying portraits of the deceased.

These mummies date roughly to circa 300 B.C.E.–200 C.E. (or 300 BC to 200 AD in the more familiar nomenclature), a time when diverse Egyptian, Roman, and Greek communities and cultural influences blended together in Egypt. It was the age of Caesar, Cleopatra and many less famous individuals and Hawara at the time was one of the great tourist destinations of the world. The Romans and Greeks of the era were fascinated not by the ageless Pyramids but by the great Labyrinth at Hawara and wanted to be buried close to it.

The mummies sent home by Flanders Petrie were a mixed lot. Some, especially the gilded outer coffins, exhibit a naivete and a long decline from a once-great civilization. Others, in particular those that feature a portrait depicting the long-dead, are unparalleled works of art.

Egyptian, from Hawara, Portrait of a bearded man, circa 185–195 C.E., wood, Manchester Museum,
© 2020 Manchester Museum / Michael Pollard Photographer

There's a lot to be learned from the portraits. Experts can determine the precise time in which the deceased lived by examining the hair and fashion styles depicted in the paintings.

Children, in particular, seem mesmerized by mummies, something that would astound archeologists like Flinders Petrie who believed the artifacts they uncovered would only be of academic interest. The NCMA exhibit caters to children by providing touchscreen interactive activities that permit kids to look beneath the mummy wrappings.

The NCMA exhibit goes beyond just mummies into the world that created them with more than 100 related objects including papyri, jewelry, ceramics, and depictions of deities, beliefs about the afterlife, and short films. You can even translate your name into hieroglyphs.

Several objects on display in the Museum's permanent collection relate to the Gilded Mummies, including the Gilded Mummy Covering, circa 300 B.C.E; Aphrodite-Isis from the first to the second century; and the Portrait Head of a Coffin, circa 100–150 C.E., found in the Egyptian and classical galleries.

If you are fascinated by all things Egyptian (and who is not?) be sure to see the Gilded Mummies during their stay in Raliegh.

Egyptian, from Hawara, Mummy of a woman called Isaious (detail), 1 st century C.E., human remains, linen, plaster, and gold leaf, Manchester Museum, © 2020 Manchester Museum / Michael Pollard Photographer

For more information, including ticket times, visit https://ncartmuseum.org/

Myrtle Beach invites visitors back to "The Beach"

2021-05-10T14:35:00.001-05:00

A new marketing plan presents Myrtle beach not just as a beach. But as The Beach.

As Covid-19 restrictions loosen across the United States, Visit Myrtle Beach introduced a new brand and marketing campaign for the summer 2021 season. The refreshed brand, The Beach, and corresponding marketing campaign, “You Belong At The Beach,” aim to attract safe and responsible travel to the destination's 60 miles of pristine Atlantic coastline, known as the Grand Strand, in addition to instilling a greater sense of community pride among residents.

“You Belong At The Beach,” the first marketing campaign to present The Beach brand, showcases a multi-faceted effort based upon extensive data to target key audiences. The campaign features television spots, paid search, paid social media; co-branded partnerships; and more. The campaign will be supplemented by specific efforts to support non-stop air service markets as well as meetings and groups audiences.

As part of the National Travel and Tourism Week celebration, Visit Myrtle Beach announced the destination's 2020 economic impact, which included more than $842 million in gross lodging sales. Visitors and residents enjoy numerous entertainment and family attractions, including world-class golf, shopping, and fresh coastal Carolina cuisine.

“Tourism is the economic lifeblood of Myrtle Beach, providing $7 billion in economic impact throughout our 14 communities in the Grand Strand," said Stuart Butler, chief marketing officer, Visit Myrtle Beach. "The Beach branding will ensure we continue to invest in increasing our tourism market share and leverage our competitive advantage for years to come.”

Visit Myrtle Beach continues to maintain the Healthy Travel section on VisitMyrtleBeach.com with the latest COVID-19 updates and encourages vigilance that may go above and beyond what is required. In general, this means wearing face coverings in public, indoor settings, and also outdoors when social distancing is not possible; frequent hand-washing with soap and water; and staying home when sick.

For additional information on tourism offerings in the Myrtle Beach area, visit www.visitmyrtlebeach.com or call (888) Myrtle-1.

A Very Broadway Christmas Dec. 7 at Broadway at the Beach

2019-11-29T14:59:00.000-05:00

The fifth annual “A Very Broadway Christmas” comes to Myrtle Beach's Broadway on the Beach on Saturday, December 7, featuring a parade, children’s activities and fireworks.

A Very Broadway Christmas Parade begins at 11 a.m. following a route that begins on the 29th Avenue North side of Broadway at the Beach, near Dave & Buster’s and go around the property following the fire lane, ending near WonderWorks.

Following the parade, free children’s activities will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Heroes Harbor area near Margaritaville. Activities include face painting, character appearances, holiday stilt walking, balloon artists, train rides, a wheel of prizes, mail for the military and more.

Children can visit with Santa at the all-new Holiday House, also located in the Heroes Harbor area of Broadway. Holiday House will be open for guests to take their own photos from noon to 6 p.m. daily through December 24. Every Sunday, through December 22, Santa will visit with children from 1 to 4 p.m.

A Very Broadway Christmas concludes with a fireworks extravaganza, sponsored by Helicopter Adventures, at 8 p.m.

For more information about Broadway at the Beach and the fifth annual “A Very Broadway Christmas,” visit www.BroadwayattheBeach.com, call 843-444-3200 or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Scott Avett’s Visual Artwork at NC Museum of History

2019-10-15T10:40:00.001-05:00

Scott Avett, Fatherhood, 2013, oil on canvas, 106 x 65 in., Courtesy of the aritst, © Scott Avett; Photograph: Lydia Bittner-Baird

Scott Avett, a founding member of NC's Grammy-nominated Avett Brothers band, reveals he is more than just a tune-smith in the new show at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) in Raleigh. The exhibit, which includes large-scale portraits, prints, and paintings, is titled Scott Avett: I N V I S I B L E and is scheduled to be on display through February 2, 2020.

Scott's first solo museum exhibition features psychologically charged and emotionally intense portraits focused on his family and himself. "Scott Avett has been a highly accomplished working artist for as long as he has been a musician, but until now, he has kept the art-making part of his life more private, almost as a refuge from his life as a performer," said Linda Dougherty, chief curator and curator of contemporary art at NCMA. "Sentimental, nostalgic, and deeply real—like his song lyrics—his paintings resonate with human emotion and forge powerful and personal connections between Avett's work and the viewer/listener."

Avett, a resident of Concord, NC, says of his art: "I'm not anything first—not painter, musician, writer, printmaker, performer—before I am an artist. I'm always thinking in visual terms. Even when I'm writing, I'm thinking visually, and I feel like everything trickles down from that. This body of work was made over a 20-year span. These are snapshots from my life as it moves and changes, all from the view of my conscience."

Scott Avett, photo by Crackerfarm

A catalog of the exhibition featuring a retrospective of Avett's work from 2008 to 2018, as well as never-before-seen pages from his sketchbooks and essays and interviews about his work, was created by art publisher Bob Chase of Chase Art. Other exclusive merchandise, including deluxe editions of the catalog, which includes a vinyl LP record, and limited-edition prints, will be available at the Museum Store, select art gallery partners, and online.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is located at 2110 Blue Ridge RoadRaleigh, NC 27607. For information on tickets and hours, visit ncartmuseum.org

Harry Connick, Jr. debuts new Broadway show at DPAC

2019-09-20T06:57:00.000-05:00

By Allan Maurer

I first heard singer Harry Connick Jr., the Grammy and Emmy-award winning singer and actor, on the soundtrack of the film, When Harry Met Sally, in 1989. I bought the album, and enough others did to make the soundtrack record a double-platinum hit.

In case you don’t remember, it included his distinct and moving renditions of several standards, including "It Had to Be You", "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore.”

I plum wore out both a record and a tape of that album. Connick won a much-deserved Grammy as best jazz male vocalist for it.

A few years later, I rode the train through the steamy deep South to hear him in person at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the whole event an unforgettable experience, including touring the pre-Katrina New Orleans streets. Connick drew a full house despite competing with several other headliners performing at the same time.

Connick was born in New Orleans September 11, 1967. He has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and is one of the top 60 best-selling male artists of all time, according to Wikipedia.

He learned keyboards at age 3, was performing publicly by age 5, and joined his first jazz band at age 10. He remains a superb pianist, and has performed with symphonic orchestras and Eubie Blake.

Connick’s seven top 20 US albums, and 13 number-one US jazz albums, more number-one albums than any other artist in US jazz chart history, established his position as one of the most prominent jazz musicians of our time.

You can find out more about Connick's career, including his Tony-award winning performance in the revival of Pajama Game, and other Broadway appearances, as well as his extensive work in films, on the official Henry Connick Jr. website.

He has a rich voice with good vocal range and his style resembles the Sinatra cool, but he nevertheless makes every song his own, even standards.

He’s had a distinguished career in movie and TV roles, as well, but his Sinatra-like vocals are what will be on display at Durham’s DPAC this weekend (Sept. 21-22, 2019), where he will present Harry Connick Jr. — A Celebration of Cole Porter, a show headed to Broadway after its world premiere in Durham. It’s been a long time since I’ve looked forward to a concert this much.

Verve, Connick’s new label, will be releasing the music from the show on an album, True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter, next month. I’ll be picking up a copy of that as well.

See the concert if you can score a ticket to DPAC’s nearly sold-out show. DPAC is holding a lottery for discounted tickets that gives you a chance to win a pair of tickets for just $25.

World Premiere at DPAC: Harry Connick, Jr. Celebrates Cole Porter

2019-09-15T14:06:00.001-05:00

Turns out Harry Connick, Jr. and I have something in common. True, he’s a talented musician, rich and famous… all of which I emphatically am not. But we both share an intense love for the music of Cole Porter.

Connick is taking Cole back to Broadway (Porter’s natural habitat) with a new musical, Harry Connick Jr. — A Celebration of Cole Porter, due to open this December at the Nederlander Theatre for a limited run. But the show is coming my way first. It will have its world premiere at DPAC in Durham Sept. 21-22.

Porter dominated popular music for Broadway and Hollywood musicals from the 1920s into the 1950s. Dozens of his hits captured the essence of the times, from the Roaring Twenties’ era “Anything Goes” to romantic ballads crooned by Astaire and Bing Crosby in movies of the 1940s.

Today, Porter’s work forms the heart of what’s referred to as the Great American Songbook. Listen to any jazz radio station for more than a few minutes and it’s a fair bet you’ll hear several Cole standards. “Love For Sale” seems to have been recorded by every jazz group out there.

Numerous musicians and singers have produced albums of Porter songs, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Charlie Parker. Jazz musicians especially love Cole’s music, partly because of his frequent change of key “from major to minor,” a practice he actually wrote about in the song “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” For improvising musicians, this is pure cream.

Harry Connick, Jr. is the latest to enter this brotherhood. His first album on Verve, titled True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter, bearing the name of Porter’s final number one hit, is due out in October. It forms the foundation of the Broadway show.

I can pinpoint the exact time I became aware of Cole Porter. My dance partner and I had been cast in a college production of Cole, a 1974 review by Benny Green and Alan Strachan that tells the story of Porter’s life through a clever arrangement of his hits. Every day for a couple of months we rehearsed until I knew the words to all the songs.

It was hard not to be impressed. As a writer, I love words, and Cole put them together like no one else. Who else would rhyme “use your mentality” with “wake up to reality” in a popular song (“I’ve Got You Under My Skin”)? Often naughty, always clever, his lyrics go beyond memorable. They burned themselves into my brain.

Later a friend bought me a book of the complete lyrics of all Cole's songs and I was able to appreciate it as the poetry it truly is.

I was surprised to discover that I was already familiar with many of Porter songs. Working for Arthur Murray, I had performed several dance routines to songs that turned out to be Porter standards… a silver foxtrot to “Night and Day,” a rumba to “Begin the Beguine,” a sultry bolero to “In the Still of the Night,” even a waltz to “True Love.”

My love affair with Cole’s music went back even further. I tap-danced my way through “Another Opening, Another Show” and “Too Darn Hot” as a teen. My love for travel (leading to my current job as a travel writer), was fueled by “I Love Paris,” “Take Me Back to Manhattan,” and that great anthem of American tourism, “See America First.”

Maybe the biggest eye-opener for me was the discovery that Porter wrote my very first favorite song. As a kid, I pumped the pedals on our player piano, singing “Don’t Fence Me In” at the top of my lungs. It became the theme song of my life.

Next weekend, Sept. 21-22, we’ll find out what Henry Connick, Jr.’s favorite Porter songs are. His new show will have one - and only one - pre-Broadway try-out, at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

The performance is said to be a multimedia event, involving a blended orchestra and jazz group, film, improvisation and a script. Connick described it to the News & Observer as “a really broad, all-encompassing theatrical experience.”

You can buy tickets on the DPAC website.

Get a taste of the music here...

What's your favorite Cole Porter song? Leave a comment below...

Simpsons in 4D brings TV show to life

2019-07-10T15:02:00.000-05:00

photo courtesy of SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment

Text and photos by Renee Wright

A little piece of Springfield, the fictional home of the beloved Simpson family, has landed at Broadway at the Beach, a sprawling dining, shopping and entertainment complex in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Featuring "authentic" reproductions of the cartoon series' Aztec Theater and Kwik-E-Mart, The Simpsons in 4D provides a fun and family-friendly experience designed for Simpson fans.

Inside the Aztec, fans have an opportunity to hang out with their favorite characters before entering the 4D theater where pre-show clips feature some of Springfield’s finest, including Itchy and Scratchy, before a short feature film starring the Simpson family getting into their signature mess-ups. The 4D technology, developed by SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment, brings the Simpson characters to life and provides more than a few thrills as the theater's seats come to life.

“We are excited to share this immersive, multi-sensory experience featuring the world’s most advanced 4D attraction technology,” Michael Needham, Founder and CEO of SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment, said when the attraction opened.

Tickets to the Aztec show include a souvenir photo of your family with Homer, Marge and Lisa on the Red Carpet.

The theater's signage and posters inside make repeated references to the Springfield Film Festival, so we can hope for additional features in the future.

After the show, theater-goers exit through the Kwik-E-Mart next door where lots of Simpsons-themed refreshments and gifts are for sale.

Lard Lad Donuts

Heat-Lamp Dogs with all the trimmings

Iconic Squishees come in a variety of themed flavors such as Buzz Cola, Radioactive Man Nuclear Cherry Lime, Itchy Berry Blast and Moe's Orange Cream. Layer several into the 4D souvenir cups to make your own neon-colored cooler.

Duff is available as well, but not as beer... this one's an energy drink.

The range of Simpsons souvenirs available is sure to offer something for every fan - from Duff beer coozies to Homer Buddha figures to giant Lard Lad Donut pillows.

The 23-acre Broadway at the Beach is South Carolina's number one tourist attraction with millions of visitors each year. Besides numerous restaurants (including Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville), shops and new brewery coming next year, it's home to a Ripley's Aquarium, a minor league baseball team named The Pelicans, the Hollywood Wax Museum, Legends in Concert tribute show, WonderWorks "amusement park for the mind," jet skis, a water park, go-carts and much more. The Simpsons in 4D with adjacent Kwik-E-Mart makes a fine addition to the family fun available here - and it's a cool place to hang out on a hot summer day.

Moogfest 2019 Announces Free Concerts and Single Day Ticket Sales

2019-04-23T11:04:00.003-05:00

Moogfest, the music, art and technology festival now in its fourth year in Downtown Durham, comes up early this year, April 25-28, 2019. The extensive program of entertainment, workshops and installations, as well as conversations with cutting edge thinkers and creators, includes several free events open to those not lucky enough to score ticket passes. Single day and student passes are now on sale.

Quarter Horse Bar & Arcade in Downtown Durham at 108 South Mangum St. hosts evenings of free music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, featuring local artists.

The annual Modular on the Spot Picnic anchors an all-day lineup of free concerts on Saturday, April 27 at the Cage at the American Tobacco Campus (ATC). Bay 7 at ATC hosts the Modular Marketplace, Moog Store and Moog Pop-up Factory throughout the festival.

Thursday April 25 Free Moogfest Events

@ Quarter Horse Bar & Arcade
A celebration of diversity

6-7 p.m. Mamis and the Papis
7-8 p.m. The Conjure
8-9 p.m. Party Illegal

Friday April 26 Free Moogfest Events

@ Quarter Horse Bar & Arcade

5-8 p.m. Micromachines - bring your music-making gadgets!

Saturday April 27 Free Moogfest Events

Fartbarf

@ The Cage at the American Tobacco Campus

11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.: The much-loved Modular on the Spot Picnic, a laid-back synth exploration led by Eric “Rodent” Cheslak, begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by SoCal electro iconoclasts Fartbarf.
4-5:30 p.m.: Questlove, Philadelphia hip-hop artist and music director for Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night show, drummer and frontman for Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group The Roots.
6-7 p.m.: Footwork legend RP Boo
7:15-8:15 p.m.: beat experimentalist Suzi Analogue presents a tribute to friend and associate DJ Rashad on the five-year anniversary of his passing.
8:30-9:30 p.m: Mez, a Raleigh-based hip-hop artist who has collaborated with Dr. Dre

Suzi Analogue

@Full Frame Theatre at ATC

3:30 - 6 p.m. Film “What Is Democracy?” Screening and discussion with filmmaker, writer, and political organizer Astra Taylor, director of the documentary, followed by a panel including Lea Martin, Delaney Vandergrift, film subject and former Student Body President at NC A&T State University, Jillian Johnson, Mayor Pro Tempore of the city of Durham, and Tara Smith, co-founded and Executive Director of Extra Terrestrial Projects, who will discuss: Who gets to participate in democracy? What is freedom? Can democracy even exist in an era of concentrated wealth? How can the people reclaim the power that is supposed to be theirs? Half of the tickets for the screening will be offered for free on a first come, first served basis.

Astra Taylor

@ Quarterhorse Bar & Arcade

4-8 p.m. Raund Haus X Erogenous Tones featuring their visual synth, STRUCTURE take the audience on a journey in visual synthesis

@ATC Workshop 6

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Digital Making Playground with Librarians David Woodbury and Adam Rogers showcasing the NCSU “Library of the Future.” Come play with cutting edge digital learning and research tools with hands-on stations featuring virtual reality demos, robots, circuits, hackable synthesizers, and more. You will get to take home your own electronic creation.

Free All Weekend Moogfest Events

@ATC Bay 7

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Modular Marketplace

Free interactive pop-up featuring boutique electronics, experimental effects, and eurorack synthesizers where you can meet instrument designers and play, test-drive, and take home the next generation of musical devices.

Moog Store by Guitar Center

Moog Pop-UP Factory

Moog Music moves its production temporarily from Asheville to Durham every year for the festival. Watch Moog engineers live-build Moog Synthesizers from the ground up.

Blue Lodges of the Albemarle Exhibit Opening March 16

2019-03-13T16:27:00.000-05:00

MASTER’S CHAIR, ca. 1766-1777

Master’s chair built by Colonial cabinetmaker and Freemason Benjamin Bucktrout and once used by Unanimity Lodge No. 7.

Courtesy Colonial Williamsburg

Elizabeth City, NC: The Museum of the Albemarle will open its latest small exhibit, Blue Lodges of the Albemarle, on March 16, 2019 at 10 am. At 10:30 am, Rachel Asbury Cole, Curatorial Intern with Colonial Williamsburg, will speak on “A Rare and Dignified Survival: A Closer Look at the Bucktrout Masonic Chair”. Refreshments will be provided by the Elizabeth City Chapter No. 44 of the Order of the Eastern Star. The event is free and open to the public.

LODGE BYLAWS PAMPHLET, 1866

Pamphlet of bylaws legislated for the regulation of Widow’s Son Lodge No. 75.

This exhibition recognizes the Albemarle region’s Freemasons and their charitable works through a fascinating display of artifacts from several Albemarle Masonic Lodges.

This eclectic collection includes a North Carolina Masonic Lodge manual, a lodge ballot box, and a Masonic master’s chair.

Blue Lodges of the Albemarle remains on view through the end of 2019.

Update: Extended through Memorial Day 2019: NC Museum of History marks 100th anniversary of WWI with special exhibit

2019-02-08T11:05:00.000-05:00

On Feb. 8, The North Carolina Museum of History announced that, due to popular demand, its award-winning and blockbuster North Carolina & World War I exhibit has been extended through May 27, 2019 (Memorial Day). Since its April 2017 opening, the free exhibit had hosted more than half a million visitors by October 2018 and reached nearly 550,000 by the end of the year, making it the most-visited temporary exhibit ever created by the North Carolina Museum of History.

Retired French Air Force General Yvonne Goutx visits the exhibit

The exhibit commemorates the centennial of U.S. entry into World War I and focuses on North Carolina’s role in the War to End All Wars on the western front in France and Belgium. Visitors experience a re-created trench warfare environment to discover what life was like for Tar Heel soldiers, who entered the war in 1917.

“World War I veterans—soldiers and nurses—feared that their service and sacrifice would be forgotten by future generations,” Ken Howard, director of the North Carolina Museum of History, said. “But visitors have come to see the exhibition in record numbers, proving that we all want to remember and honor their memory.”

Built entirely in-house by museum staff, the experiential exhibit has received numerous awards:

In October 2018, former deputy museum director and lead curator for the World War I exhibit, Jackson Marshall, received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Outstanding State Government Service for his work on the exhibit.
In August 2018, the exhibit received a Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Silver Award for Outstanding Exhibitions.
In May 2018, the North Carolina Museums Council honored the exhibit with an NCMC Award of Excellence.

Highlights include approximately 500 artifacts, period photography, a trench diorama, historical film footage, educational interactive components, and video re-enactments that feature European and North Carolina soldiers and citizens to relate the stories of ordinary men and women from North Carolina who provided extraordinary service to their country 100 years ago.

April 6th, 2017 marks 100 years to the day that the U.S. entered WWI. North Carolina sent many Tar Heels off to war overseas for the first time. The N.C. Museum of History is commemorating this event with a special exhibit that tells the stories of these soldiers, as well as the homefront role of the state in wartime.

Believed to be the largest of its kind among state history museums, the exhibit will immerse visitors in a life-sized replica of the trenches that saw so much of the wartime action A maze of seven-foot-high walls, lined with hundreds of sandbags, lead visitors through the 6,500 sq. ft. exhibit from one illuminated exhibit case to the next. Interactive videos and film footage "periscopes" dot the way. Other features of the exhibit include a re-created field hospital, wall-sized photo murals and historical film footage highlighted by heart-pounding battlefield sounds and lights.

NC Aviator Kiffin Rockwell

The N.C. Museum of History is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and is receiving something special for the exhibit from the National Air and Space Museum, one of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. The uniform worn by North Carolina aviator Kiffin Rockwell will be on display for the duration of the exhibit. Rockwell, who grew up in Asheville, NC, was the first American pilot to shoot down enemy aircraft in WWI.

Artifacts donated by the Rockwell family.

A free day-long event on Saturday, April 8, 2017, will celebrate the opening of a new museum exhibit, North Carolina and World War I. Activities include a wreath-laying ceremony with Governor Roy Cooper, an armored Humvee and a five-ton cargo truck from the NC National Guard, a bagpiper in WWI regalia, costumed reenactors, film screenings, hands-on activities, and more.

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public will be on display through January 6, 2019 (See new closing date above). Many special events will be based around the WWI theme during this time.

For more information, visit the NC Museum of History website.

The Story of Chocolate at the Museum of the Albemarle

2019-02-02T12:13:00.000-05:00

The Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, NC will present The Story of Chocolate on Wednesday, February 6 beginning at 10 a.m. in the lobby. The drop-in program that continues until 3 p.m.

Celebrate February and Valentine's Day by discovering the history of chocolate in American.

Find out:

how chocolate got started
the role chocolate played in the lives of early Americans
how the original recipes tasted

Answers to these and other questions will be answered with help from the American Heritage Chocolate educational section, a division of Mars, Inc., which conducts chocolate-making demonstrations across the country.

Mars has developed an authentic, historic chocolate fashioned on an ingredient list from 1750. American Heritage Chocolate is the result of years of research by more than 115 global experts. The legendary advocate of American history and chocolate’s unique story in the Americas, Forrest E. Mars, Jr., developed the formula aided by a team of historians in 2006.

Chocolate played an important role in the lives of Americans during the 18th century, when a lady was judged by the height of the froth on her chocolate. If you've visited Colonial Williamsburg, you've probably toured one of the restored chocolate houses there, and possibly picked up some American Heritage chocolate at one of the period stores.

The Story of Chocolate program includes a demonstration of historic methods of processing chocolate allowing visitors to smell the spices and try their hand at grinding nibs on a heated Mexican stone metate. This will be followed by a taste of the historic chocolate drink..

In 2019, the chocolate sales worldwide are expected to hit nearly $138 billion. The demand for premium dark chocolate is increasing by leaps and bounds, making it a hot commodity world-wide.

Free and open to the public. Call (252) 331-4032 for more information.

The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com

North Carolina Museum of History presents 18th annual African American Cultural Celebration

2019-01-23T11:58:00.000-05:00

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Museum of History’s 18th Annual African American Cultural Celebration (AACC) takes place on Saturday, January 26.Highlights include:

Procession (10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., Bicentennial Plaza)

Follow the parade of groups to kick off the 18th African American Cultural Celebration. Hear the thunderous sound of the Tryon Palace Jonkonnu Drummers as they lead the way of the opening ceremony and then listen to the Wake Technical Community College Inspirational Choir perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Sugar Shack Dance Tribute (11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Daniels Auditorium, Level 1)
J. Ivy, poet, writer, voice-over artist, photographer, and NCCU Dance Group, facilitated by Nicole Oxendine: A dance tribute to artist Ernie Barnes and his painting Sugar Shack.

NC and Hip Hop (11:55 a.m. – 12:25 p.m., Longleaf Classroom, Level R)
Hip Hop in North Carolina? The musical form that originated in the north does have a North Carolina presence. N.C. A&T professor of Rural Sociology, Chanel Nestor, will present “Don’t Wait Til It’s Cool: An N.C. Hip Hop Photography Exhibit.”

Tyler Butler-Figueroa (1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Staircase Stage, Level 1) Eleven-year-old violin sensation is a Leukemia survivor, and he hopes that his music will be an inspiration to other kids fighting cancer. One, day he hopes to take his violin skills to the “America’s Got Talent” stage! At the AACC, Tyler will be performing some of his favorite pop and hip-hop songs.

Affralachians in the Appalachians (2:30 – 3 p.m., Staircase Stage, Level 1)
Listen to the stories of African Americans in the Appalachians told by this duo – Whitt-Ness the Journey – through the usage of a banjo and fiddle.

All Day

On the Right Track (10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Bicentennial Plaza) Eugene Coard and his brothers were the first African Americans to join the United States Racing Team. The Mutt Brothers , as they call themselves, came to fame when they raced the “Quarter Million Quarter Mile” street race in the 1980’s. Check out the cars and talk with members of the Eugene Coard drag-racing team about their experiences on and off the track, then take the seatbelt challenge!

Tarin Pipkins (Level 1) Tarin Pipkins inherited his love of puppetry from his father- longtime artist, Jeghetto, otherwise known as Tarish Pipkins. Pipkins’ puppets are all made from recycled materials and the father/son duo often perform with his puppets in schools. These puppets have also made appearances in music videos and even an Amazon Alexa commercial. Check out Tarin’s Instagram account here!

Food Trucks (10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Bicentennial Plaza) Food vendors offer everything from pies, cookies, and cupcakes to barbeque and comfort food.

Civil War Reenactors (10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., A Call to Arms Gallery, Level 3)
Get a glimpse of what life was like for African Americans serving during the Civil War. Reenactors will portray the lives of members of Battery B, 2nd Regiment, U.S. Colored Light Artillery in the 37th U.S. Colored Infantry.

Black Farmers Market (10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Bicentennial Plaza)
Visit with some of North Carolina’s black farmers and buy some of their produce and goods. The black farmers market held their inaugural market in November in Durham and plan to make the once a year market an annual event.

In addition, music and other programming goes on all day both inside and outside the Museum. Visit the festival webpage for a full schedule.

70 of 2019's Biggest Events and Festivals in Raleigh, NC

2019-01-21T14:57:00.000-05:00

The good folks at Visit Raleigh have put together a full year of major festivals and celebrations coming up in 2019. You'll find concerts, barbecue, cultural celebrations, road races, theatrical productions, holiday festivities, beer events and much more. Some of the dates for these events have not yet been announced (and some major events—concerts, for example—haven't been announced at all yet). So take a sneak peak and plan to spend some time in the state capitol this year.

January

Justin Timberlake, Jan. 6, 2019
Kicking off a big year of events, singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake brings his critically-acclaimed "The Man of the Woods Tour" to Raleigh's PNC Arena (which boasts a jam-packed schedule of its own for 2019!).

Triangle Restaurant Week 2019, Jan. 21-27, 2019
A week-long celebration of culinary excellence, Triangle Restaurant Week sees some of the area's best restaurants offer up special, three-course menu options at fixed pricing ($15 for lunch, and $20, $25 or $30 for dinner), a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to return to an old favorite dining spot or discover a new one.

18th Annual African American Cultural Celebration, Jan. 26, 2019
An annual, statewide kickoff to Black History Month at the North Carolina Museum of History, the African American Cultural Celebration brings together 75+ musicians, storytellers, dancers, chefs, historians, artists and more in downtown Raleigh for a day of pride and celebration of culture.

Metallica, Jan. 28, 2019
Metallica, the legendary American heavy metal band, stops at PNC Arena on their latest "WorldWired Tour."

February

Krispy Kreme Challenge, Feb. 2, 2019
One of America's most unique running events (and toughest eating events!), the Krispy Kreme Challenge requires competitors to run five miles, eat a dozen doughnuts at the halfway point and hit the finish line in under one hour. Started in 2004 with just a handful of North Carolina State University students, the annual event now draws nearly 8,000 runners decked out in costumes along with plenty of media attention. For the curious, those doughnuts total 2,400 calories and 144 grams of fat—but who's counting!

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo, Feb. 7-10, 2019
Corteo, the latest and most enchanting of Cirque du Soleil's arena productions, features 51 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from all around the world portraying a joyous procession and festive parade imagined by the main character.

Raleigh Little Theatre presents Junie B. Jones, The Musical, Feb. 15-24, 2019
A delightful adaptation of Barbara Park's best-selling books, audiences will get a sneak peek into the Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal of the outspoken and lovable Junie B. Jones in this musical directed by Kathleen Rudolph.

March

Elton John, March 12, 2019
English singer, pianist, and composer (and five-time Grammy Award-winner) Elton John takes to the stage at PNC Arena, celebrating a half-century of music on his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour.

Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Wearin' 'O the Green Festival, March 16, 2019
In celebration of the great St. Patrick as well as Irish and Celtic traditions and culture, a parade of dancers, bagpipes, musicians and more march through downtown Raleigh and afterwards continue a day of fun with a full line-up of live music and performances in Raleigh's City Plaza.

North Carolina Theatre presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I, March 19-24, 2019
One of Rodgers & Hammerstein's finest works, The King and I boasts a score which features such beloved classics as “Getting To Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Shall We Dance” and “Something Wonderful.” Set in 1860's Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens.

Art in Bloom, March 21-24, 2019
One of the can't-miss events of the year at the North Carolina Museum of Art, Art in Bloom is a four-day festival of art and flowers. More than 50 floral interpretations inspired by the museum's galleries, some more than 10 feet tall, are created on-site by world-class designers and showcased throughout the museum's West Building (have your cameras ready!). The ticketed event invites participants to attend presentations and workshops, dine at Iris and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts.

Mid-Town Square Spring Festival, late March 2019
Held at Bond Brothers Beer Company (which was voted 2017's "Best New Brewery" in the country in USA TODAY's 10Best) this free-admission festival features food trucks, local artists, live music and, of course, Bond Brothers' award-winning brews (new releases and special casks included!). Kids and leashed dogs are welcome at the brewery but heads up—this event will draw a big crowd!

Casks on Fools, late March or early April 2019
The annual kick-off party for Raleigh, N.C.'s Beer Month celebrations in April, Casks on Fools at Crank Arm Brewing features truly-unique casks from more than 20 N.C.-based breweries. We're talking everything from mango habanero IPAs to chocolate cream stouts, Irish stouts with cherries and way more. The by-the-glass cask festival celebrates the innovation of craft beer across the area—this is for the beer lovers and the adventurous drinkers!

April

Dreamville Festival, April 6, 2019
Curated by platinum-selling rapper and N.C. native, J.Cole, Dreamville will be a one-day, multi-stage festival at downtown Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park with a one-of-a-kind celebration of local culture, food and art that also features a curated selection of music performers blending together some of today's biggest national acts with exciting up-and-comers (full lineup coming soon!).

Zac Brown Band, April 13, 2019
Set to play an early-season show at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek (the area's largest outdoor music venue!), the Zac Brown Band returns to Raleigh with their signature country sound.

North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival, mid-April 2019
What could be finer than a jam-packed day of drool-worthy barbecue from The Pit, plenty of local brews and toe-tappin' bluegrass music in downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District?

Live and Local: Spring Fest on Hillsborough St., mid-April 2019
An annual, family-friendly street festival featuring a full day of music, artists, inflatables for kids, beer from Raleigh Brewing Company and more.

Lebanese Festival, mid-April 2019
The 21st annual Lebanese Festival in downtown Raleigh promises non-stop dancing and musical performances to go along with Lebanese desserts, beer, wine and more (including all the belly dancing you can handle!).

Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, April 27, 2019
Featuring more than 170 local artists, Cary's Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival (celebrating their 26th year in 2019) fills the streets with art—paintings, jewelry, sculptures and more—plus food vendors, children's activities and all-day live music.

Brewgaloo, April 26-27, 2019
N.C.'s largest craft beer festival—featuring 100 breweries, 50 food trucks and drawing 30,000 people—Brewgaloo takes over downtown Raleigh for two days each April. The festival, which has free admission on Sat. (so bring plenty of friends!), allows you to purchase either beer samples or full pints from breweries located across the state. The event is part of Beer Month in Raleigh, N.C., a month-long celebration of the nearly 30 craft breweries that call the area home.

May

Meet in the Street Festival, May 4, 2019
A day filled with food, fun and entertainment in historic downtown Wake Forest for more than 35 years running, Meet in the Street pulls together all-day live music plus an additional stage of entertainment with dancers, martial arts, magicians and more. Plenty of food trucks and a beer garden headed by Wake Forest's own White Street Brewing Company are sure to keep festival-goers happy.

39th Annual Apex PeakFest, May 4, 2019
Salem St. in historic downtown Apex comes alive with more than 20,000 visitors during PeakFest. For more than 30 years, the arts and crafts festival has brought families together for a day of fun, food and fellowship. The town of Apex's largest annual event, PeakFest has all-day live music, all the arts and crafts you can imagine, entertainment for kids and food vendors that bring their best State Fair-style goodies.

Out! Raleigh, May 4, 2019
Preparing to hold their ninth annual event in 2019, this inclusive and action-packed event draws nearly 50,000 people to celebrate the LGBT community and raise funds to support the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Live entertainment, local vendors and artists, great food and kids' activities line downtown Raleigh's Fayetteville St.

Spring into the Arts Walk, early May 2019
Located in Wendell's historic downtown district, this open-air arts competition features a classic car show, chalk art demonstrations, live music, a silent auction, tons of activities for kids and more.

Thrive NC, mid-May 2019
A two-day event featuring 50 of the area's top chefs and restaurants, Thrive NC is a collaborative event that offers attendees unlimited sampling of top-notch eats and craft beer.

Carolina Ballet: Swan Lake, May 16-19, 2019
Closing out Carolina Ballet's 21st season in Raleigh is one of the most popular story ballets of all time. Swan Lake is an enchanting fairy tale that tells the story of a beautiful swan princess cursed to live as a swan until she can find true love. Set to one of Tchaikovsky's greatest scores, Robert Weiss' version is truly spectacular. Music for this performance will be played live by The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle.

Got to Be NC Festival, May 17-19, 2019
Putting the best of N.C. food and beverage on display, the Got to Be NC Festival offers tons of eating opportunities, live music, a huge collection of antique tractors, a carnival for children and more activities (plus free parking and admission) at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival, May 18-19, 2019
One of the Southeast's premier arts festivals, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival attracts more than 80,000 people to downtown Raleigh during the third weekend of May each year. Celebrating fine visual art and live music since 1980, the festival puts more than 180 artists' work, using countless mediums, on display for all to see and enjoy during the free festival.

Freedom Balloon Fest, late May 2019
This family-friendly, truly-unique event runs throughout Memorial Day Weekend at Fuquay-Varina's Fleming Loop Park. The admission-free festival invites the public to enjoy dozens of hot air balloons as they fill the skies in honor and remembrance of those have served in the military. Tons of live music, an arts and crafts village and food vendors on hand make this a fun event for all.

Paul McCartney, May 27, 2019
The Paul McCartney live experience, brought to PNC Arena as "The Freshen Up Tour", is everything any music lover could ever want from a rock show: nearly three hours of the greatest moments from the last 50 years of music, dozens of songs from Paul's solo act and of course Beatles catalogue that have formed the soundtracks of so many lives.

June

Ariana Grande, June 4, 2019
Multi-platinum, record-breaking superstar Ariana Grande brings her "Sweetener World Tour" to Raleigh, fresh off the heels of her latest album, "Sweetener", debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Peak City Pig Fest, June 14-15, 2019
Live music, a beer garden, a barbecue competition (sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society) and more make for one of Apex's tastiest events of the year.

Jon Bellion, June 16, 2019
Rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Jon Bellion—known for his hit single "All Time Low"—will take stage in the shadows of the Raleigh skyline at Red Hat Amphitheater (and will highlight what's sure to be a huge summer schedule at one of the area's best outdoor venues).

July

Raleigh 4th of July Fireworks Display, July 4, 2019
You can't miss Raleigh's Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza! Having returned to West Raleigh in 2018, the city's annual July Fourth fireworks are held near the Stadium and Arena Complex (Carter-Finley Stadium and PNC Arena area). With plenty of free parking available, this breathtaking show is a must-see (and best enjoyed with lots of family and friends!).

Town of Cary July 4th Celebration, July 4, 2019
Relax under the pines at Koka Booth Amphitheatre for the Town of Cary's July 4th Celebration—you'll be able to enjoy family-friendly activities, including rides and games, a venue-wide scavenger hunt, watermelon eating contests and even a 50-foot Ferris wheel! Live music—often performed by the Cary Town Band and followed by a performance from the North Carolina Symphony—caps the evening just before fireworks light up the sky.

SunFest at Dorothea Dix Park, mid-July 2019
A gorgeous field of sunflowers was temporarily a well-kept secret in 2018 before being unveiled at the first ever SunFest event at Dorothea Dix Park—a celebration of summer for the whole family that included live music, performing arts, arts and crafts, food trucks and more. The sunflowers, and the celebration, is expected to return even bigger and better in 2019.

North Carolina Theatre presents Annie, July 23-28, 2019
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City.

Raleigh Supercon, July 25-28, 2019
A three-day festival for fans of pop culture, superheroes, science fiction, anime and more, Raleigh Supercon will be back and bigger than ever at the Raleigh Convention Center in July. Featuring celebrity guests, comic book creators, artists, cosplayers and other industry guests, Raleigh Supercon is expected to bring an incredible 30,000 attendees together in downtown Raleigh to see and be seen, to meet celebrities, go head-to-head in video games and have a blast participating in all things geek!

August

Sir Walter Miler, early Aug. 2019
One of America's best (and fastest) track events, the Sir Walter Miler, is a free-admission event featuring an elite field of men and women runners and allows fans onto the track at Meredith College to scream and cheer as athletes look to set some of the fastest mile times of the year in the U.S. Since the inception of the Sir Walter Miler in 2014, the collective men's elite field has broken the four-minute mile barrier a total of 26 times, and the women's elite field has broken 4:30—a time that had never previously been beat in the history of N.C.—nine total times.

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, Aug. 2-3, 2019
Beer sipping, bourbon tasting, music listening and barbecue eating—what's not to love? Don't miss the two-day Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Admission buys you a souvenir sampling glass, so you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon, plus chow down on some pulled pork, ribs, biscuit and more, all while enjoying all-day live music.

Packapalooza, early Aug. 2019
This annual, all-day block party and street festival, drawing more than 80,000 attendees, caps off North Carolina State University's Wolfpack Welcome Week at the start of another academic year. The free and open-to-the-public event features more than 300 vendor booths lining Hillsborough St., along with food, games, arts and crafts, a water slide (bring your bathing suit!), visual and performing arts and more. Music, headlined by N.C.-bred country band Parmalee, will take center stage to close out the evening.

Summer Daze Music Festival Vol. 2, Aug. 17, 2019
Celebrate summer at the second annual Summer Daze Music Festival at Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park in North Hills, a celebration of music, local businesses, culture and, of course, summertime vibes. The 2019 music lineup will be announced at a later date.

Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, late Aug. 2019
For more than 40 years, the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival has put local artists and crafts makers in the spotlight. Today, the Cary festival has grown to two days, features more than 300 artists from 16 states, has multiple stages of live music, a beer garden and plenty of food trucks to keep everyone happy.

September

Beericana Craft Beer and Music Festival, early Sept. 2019
This fast-growing beer and music festival held at beautiful Sugg Farm Park brings together more than 70 breweries (including most of the nearly 30 craft beverage brewers in Raleigh, N.C.) and more than 20 food trucks, along with a full lineup of Americana jams, to celebrate good friends, good beer and good times in Holly Springs.

Hopscotch Music Festival, Sept. 5-7, 2019
Three days, nearly 150 bands, 12 venues in downtown Raleigh, 50 totally-free day parties and 25,000 fans—it's no wonder why Hopscotch Music Festival is time and time again named one of America's can't-miss music events. The acts—and genres—are as wide ranging as the venues they play in (the 5,000-seat Red Hat Amphitheater and a tiny dive bar, Slim's Downtown, for example). Headlining acts in recent years have included Angel Olsen, Big Boi, Solange, Run The Jewels, Margo Price, The Flaming Lips and more.

SPARKcon, mid-Sept. 2019
SPARKcon, the totally-weird, totally-awesome creativity festival that takes over downtown Raleigh each Sept., is truly a grassroots event. The "for the people, by the people" approach uses an open-source planning process that allows more than 2,000 artists to be involved each year. Dance, fashion, music, film, food—if you can name it, you can find an event for it at the festival that spans nearly 15 city blocks.

BugFest, mid-Sept. 2019
Experience more than 100 exhibits, crafts, games and activities at BugFest, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' annual event that lets you interact with entomologists and other scientists while learning about the fascinating world of bugs. Featuring the ever-popular Café Insecta, where the brave can sample buggy dishes prepared by local chefs. The best part? The event is totally free for the expected 35,000 attendees.

Apex Music Festival, mid-Sept. 2019
Ready for its ninth year, the Apex Music Festival attracts thousands of fans to historic downtown Apex to enjoy live music, street vendors, food trucks, beer and wine and an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. Two outdoor stages and one indoor theater will host a variety of acts from local, regional and national performers from many musical genres—rock, folk, R&B, bluegrass, country and more.

15th Annual Capital City Bikefest, Sept. 20-22, 2019
The country's largest downtown motorcycle rally, this three-day, family-friendly event featuring musical performances, parades and plenty of sweet rides is tough to miss (and impossible not to hear!). Bike competitions, a tattoo festival, a classic car show, food trucks and much, much more are big draws for the wildly-diverse crowd.

Groove in the Garden, late Sept. 2019
Groove in the Garden is back for year five at Raleigh Little Theatre's beautiful Stephenson Amphitheater. The annual music and arts festival shines the spotlight on some incredible local talent. Two stages of music, plus food trucks, beer, wine, local artists and vendors, a kids' zone and more make this a can't-miss late summer event in Raleigh.

World of Bluegrass, Sept. 24-28, 2019
The arrival of a toe-tappin', banjo-strummin' week of non-stop week of bluegrass in downtown Raleigh is one of the most anticipated times of the year. The International Bluegrass Music Association brings their business conference, along with the world's most talented bluegrass musicians, to Raleigh during this week. Those musicians then perform in clubs, on street corners and in hotel lobbies—anywhere they can find a jam session—during the Bluegrass Ramble. Then the week is capped off with Wide Open Bluegrass, a two-day festival that sets up five stages of free music, a dance tent, a barbecue championship, tons of art vendors and more. The ticketed Main Stage at Red Hat Amphitheater has featured the Steep Canyon Rangers with Steve Martin, Sierra Hull, The Infamous Stringdusters and more in recent years.

Carrie Underwood, Sept. 30, 2019
Seven-time Grammy winner and Pollstar's three-time top female country touring artist, Carrie Underwood swings through Raleigh to take the stage at PNC Arena as part of her "The Cry Pretty Tour 360"—she'll be joined by special guests Maddie & Tae and Runaway June.

October

Casktoberfest, early Oct. 2019
Cheers to seasonal beers! Big Boss Brewing Company's Casktoberfest transforms the brewery into a giant beer hall with 30+ one-of-a-kind cask ales, just in time to head into the new fall season.

2019 North Carolina State Fair, Oct. 17-27, 2019
The largest annual event in the state, the North Carolina State Fair draws one million visitors through the gates each Oct., marking what many consider to be the unofficial beginning of the fall season. Eleven days of high-flying rides, deep-fried foods, live music, stunt shows and other entertainment (including nightly fireworks) has been a can't-miss event for generations of families—the 2019 version of the North Carolina State Fair marks the 152nd year of the event!

SAS Championship, mid-Oct. 2019
See some of golf's best at the SAS Championship, a PGA Tour Championships event. Held annually at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, the event is widely recognized as one of the most important events of the year. The tournament is expected to once again play host to 'Wildcard Weekend'—the last full-field event before the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs.

Triangle Oktoberfest, mid-Oct. 2019
The sixth annual Triangle Oktoberfest at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary is set to provide plenty of family-friendly activities including live music, storytelling, dancing and traditional Bavarian food and fare (plus local and authentic German beers on hand).

Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Masterpieces of Modern Mexico from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, Oct. 26, 2019-Jan. 19, 2020
Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Masterpieces of Modern Mexico from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection at the North Carolina Museum of Art presents the paintings of two icons of the 20th century. Few artists have captured the public's imagination with the force of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–54) and her husband, the Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera (1886–1957).

International Festival of Raleigh, late Oct. 2019
The Raleigh Convention Center will host the 34th International Festival of Raleigh, where more than 50 ethnic groups will be represented through food, stage performances, fashion shows, handmade crafts and beer and coffee tastings.

November

Moonlight in the Garden, mid-Nov. 2019
A magical lighting exhibition that's suited for the entire family, Moonlight in the Garden at JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University is a once-per-year opportunity to see the nationally-acclaimed gardens artfully illuminated by colorful lights. Each evening of the ticketed event is paired with live music, food trucks, hot apple cider, fire pits and marshmallows to roast!

American Indian Heritage Celebration, mid-Nov. 2019
Musicians, dancers, artists, storytellers and authors from N.C.'s eight state-recognized tribes will gather for this popular family event. For all ages, the celebration is a firsthand opportunity to learn about the state's American Indian culture, past and present. Activities include craft demonstrations, hands-on activities, games, foods and much more.

North Hills Tree Lighting Celebration, mid-Nov. 2019
The annual lighting of a 41-foot-tall Christmas tree, a visit from Santa Claus, trackless train rides for kids, live music and plenty of vendors on hand make this celebration an equally great event for families and a fun date idea. Arrive a tad early to join in on the Holiday Sip & Shop to knock out some shopping at local retailers like Peter Millar, Quail Ridge Books, Scout & Molly's plus more while enjoying complimentary hot chocolate and cider.

75th Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade, Nov. 23, 2019
A Raleigh tradition for more than 70 years, the Raleigh Christmas Parade is the largest parade of its kind between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The parade—filled with marching bands, dancers, classic cars, super heroes and more— marches through downtown Raleigh for two hours along a 1.4-mile route that draws a crowd of 60,000 spectators.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, late Nov. 2019 through mid-Jan. 2020
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival puts hundreds of larger-than-life lanterns on display at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre, creating an incredible, colorful adventure for you to walk through during the holiday season. In all, the lanterns and more than 15,000 LED lights make up 20 distinct displays, including a 200-foot-long, 21-foot-tall Chinese Dragon that sits on Symphony Lake.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, late Nov. through mid-Dec. 2019
Based on the animated television special "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the stage production directed and conceived by Jeff Frank and First Stage, the characters you know and love—Rudolph, the Abominable Snowman, Santa and Mrs. Claus and more—come to life in this Broadway Series South production.

December

Boylan Heights Art Walk, early Dec. 2019
For 26 years and counting, the Boylan Heights Art Walk has featured more than a hundred artists and craftspeople selling a wide range of glasswork, jewelry, woodwork, clay work and ceramics, photography and prints, multimedia, painting and other art from the neighborhood's porches, yards, and sidewalks (in of the area's prettiest neighborhoods!).

State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony, early Dec. 2019
With luminaries lighting the Capitol grounds and local choral groups filling the air with seasonal songs, the lighting of the tree at the North Carolina State Capitol building is a sign for many that the holiday season is officially here. After the lighting of the tree, stick around to tour the inside of the Capitol, covered in wreaths and draped in garland.

48th Annual Oakwood Candlelight Tour, early Dec. 2019
Historic Oakwood, a community of homes, many of which are dated to the mid-1800s to early 1900s, has its own small-town feel. Elegantly decorated for the holidays, you can step inside about a dozen private homes, staffed with docents who tell the rich history of this Century Victorian neighborhood.

Theatre In The Park presents A Christmas Carol, early Dec. 2019
This theater production from local passionate mind Ira David Wood III, celebrating its 45th year during the 2019 holiday season, has wowed more than a million guests throughout the years. The beloved musical comedy, in which Wood himself puts on an incredible performance as Scrooge, has been a longstanding tradition for families in the area—tickets tend to go quickly so plan ahead!

Carolina Ballet: The Nutcracker, early Dec. 2019
Grace, grandeur and mysterious illusions. Carolina Ballet's holiday classic is a can't-miss tradition for locals, visitors, families and friends. The only production in the country using illusions created by renowned magician Rick Thomas, The Nutcracker will make characters levitate, disappear and reappear before your eyes in 14 performances at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

NCAA Men's College Cup, Dec. 13-15, 2019
Four teams, one ultimate prize—the final four NCAA Men's soccer teams will battle it out on the pitch at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary to crown a champion in of the year's biggest sports events held in the Raleigh area.

First Night Raleigh, Dec. 31, 2019
First Night Raleigh, a downtown Raleigh New Year's Eve celebration for more than 25 years, is an all-day event with more than 100 performances (music, dance, theater, comedy and more) across 35 venues. Tons of kids' activities, a 90-foot-tall Ferris wheel and a countdown to midnight (where, yes, a giant acorn drops from the sky as the clock strikes 12) and celebratory fireworks highlight a full day of festivities.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Turns 100

2018-12-20T10:11:00.001-05:00

On December 19th, 2018, Ripley's Believe It or Not! celebrated their 100th anniversary

Believe It or Not!, a phrase you likely hear daily, was coined by Robert Ripley, a man who created a century old (and counting!) legacy. 100 years later, "Believe It or Not!" remains a part of our lexicon, but what about the man behind the phrase?

Ripley with Balinese dancers

Ripley was famous for his world travels and regaling his readers with tales of far-flung places. Ripley traveled to more than 200 countries in 35 years seeking the odd, the unusual, and the unexplained.

Ripley in India

On Dec 19, 1918, the cartoon that started it all was published. It was a slow sports news day, and with a lack of ready material, Ripley got the idea to pull together some previously drawn cartoons of unusual sports feats he had drawn but not published. He submitted it to his editors, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Ripley became so popular that he was once voted the most popular man in America and received an average of 3,000 letters per day – that's over a million letters a year!

The Believe It or Not! cartoon was not only a success, but it also changed history….

On November 3, 1929, Ripley published "America Has No National Anthem"—asserting "The Star-Spangled Banner" was nothing more than an unofficial hymn sung to an old English drinking song. It took 16 months for Congress to pass a one-sentence bill for President Herbert Hoover to sign into law America's anthem—all thanks to Ripley!

Beyond print, Ripley also had an extensive career in broadcast, even earning his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for radio.

Today, Ripley's Believe It or Not! has over 30 locations in 10 countries. Its publishing, licensing, and broadcast divisions oversee projects that include the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books, and the popular syndicated cartoon strip that still runs daily in multiple countries around the world.

Ripley's Odditorium at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair

Modern Ripley's in Niagara Falls, Canada

Ripley with Fiji "mermaid"

In the wise words of Robert Ripley: "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Find locations, cartoons, and plenty of weird news at www.ripleys.com.

Note: Ripley's operates an aquarium, an odditorium and several other attractions in Myrtle Beach, SC.

New Exhibit at NCMHShowcases Powerful Images from the Vietnam War

2018-09-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

Writing Home

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina Museum of History's new exhibit, A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans, features intriguing images taken by North Carolina soldiers, during their service in Vietnam. Each snapshot, assembled by Winston-Salem photographer Martin Tucker and enhanced by commentary from veterans, show what the war looked like to the troops on the ground. Some record the horrors of war; others focus less on the war and more on the experience—their friendships, the Vietnamese people, the countryside, the longing for home.

The Vietnam War took place literally half a world away from the United States; life for the soldiers was an unknown to most Americans in the 1960s and 1970s. Many only knew the war from images on TV—some of which were quite graphic.

Muddy Grunt

Martin Tucker said: "The photographs paint as broad a picture as possible . . . of what 18- to 20-year-old young men experienced in their year away from home (in addition to combat)—and how they chose to document it. They're showing what they couldn't say."

"Vietnam was a complex conflict, ushering in a new type of warfare: a war without borders," said Charlie Knight, military curator at the North Carolina Museum of History. "When Martin Tucker originally collected these images and the stories that go with them, he provided a glimpse into a very turbulent time period in U.S. history. The images in 1000 Words convey what everyday life was like for those in uniform in Vietnam, and we hope that visitors will gain a greater understanding of this war 50 years ago."

Honoring Vietnam Vets

The traveling exhibit will be on display in the museum lobby through Feb. 24, 2019. Corresponding educational programming will run throughout 2018, and will feature a Curator's Tour with Martin Tucker, as well as a Veteran's Day Military History Tour.

Images courtesy of the North Carolina Museum of History.

Free Fun - from fire dancers to fireworks - at Myrtle Beach area venues

2018-08-17T07:39:00.000-05:00

Families still have time to enjoy free family-friendly entertainment at Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach’s epicenter of fun, and at Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach’s shopping, dining and entertainment destination situated on the waterway, before fall events begin.

Free ongoing entertainment options include:

At Broadway at the Beach

Fire Dancers
The Avenue at Broadway at the Beach lights up every night from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with fire dancers performing along The Avenue.

Mr. Nigel
Mr. Nigel gets toes tapping. from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday, in the Center Court at Broadway at the Beach.

Fireworks
Fireworks shows begin at 10 p.m., every Tuesday night through Aug. 28 and Friday nights through Aug. 17, with a special show slated for Sunday, Sept. 2.

At Barefoot Landing

Live Music
SummerFest! continues every night at 7 p.m. with free live concerts by regional bands. For a list of
nightly performers, log on to www.bflanding.com/calendar.

Nick Pike
The fire-juggling unicyclist seen on America’s Got Talent has fascinated crowds for 10 years with his amazing, interactive juggling show. Free shows at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.

Steel DrummersFather and son steel drum duo John and Tony Mastroberti, known as the Tropical Jammers, bring their musical talents to Barefoot Landing beginning at 7 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

Fireworks
Fireworks every Monday night through Aug. 27, with a special show Saturday, Sept. 1.

Sullivan's Sip and Savor event kicks off Independence Week with a bang

2018-07-12T12:16:00.001-05:00

by Sally Whaley and Ben Jerman

SULLIVANS in South End kicked off July 4th weekend with its Sip and Savor event on Sunday afternoon, July 1. . Chef Mike Cruz and Manager Joe Romanosky put on a beautiful complimentary charcuterie board and appetizers. The menu included ahi tuna sashimi cucumber bites...filet spring rolls...bruschetta with Palma ham...asiago cheese....and a choice of pinot grigio or citrus vodka and pineapple martini cocktails. A fabulous trio played Dave Brubeck and George Benson jazz hits on the patio.....worth coming to Sullivans to enjoy the ambiance, not to mention the great food, drink and music. FYI: happy hour is all night in the bar on Thursdays with live jazz plus $7 Bar Bites, select wines and Signature Cocktails .....

Beautiful hors d'oeuvres... Filet croissants, shrimp, sushi bites, cheese cake etc!

Jazz by Groove Master Band .. great Brubeck and Benson..

Thanks to our hosts, new General Manager, Joe Romanosky, and new chief Mike Cruz from Naples Florida. Joe recently moved from Alaska to get warmer weather... Wow...did he ever !! 95 today in Charlotte..

The Groove Masters are regulars on the entertainment calendar, which features live jazz from 7-10 pm Wed - Sat.

Sullivan's Steakhouse of Charlotte

1928 South Blvd Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28203
(980) 277-1614
sullivanssteakhouse.com/charlotte

American Dance Festival returns to Durham for 85th anniversary - ADF First Week Highlights

2018-06-13T13:40:00.000-05:00

Dedicated to ADF Alumni, the 85th American Dance Festival gets underway on Thursday, June 14th. A brief ceremony honoring the alumni will be held at 7pm at Reynolds Industries Theater prior to the season opening performance. The Opening Night Fête follows at Penn Pavilion on Duke University's west campus. Dancing, wine, beer, catered food, and an ADF signature cocktail, plus meeting and mingling with dancers and choreographers highlight the evening. Tickets are $150 each and include the evening's performance. Tickets available here.

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company | Photo Audrey Ingram

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) returns on June 14-15, performing classic pieces from its extensive repertoire and a new ADF-commissioned piece by Abby Zbikowski. The DCDC holds the world's largest archive of classic African-American dance works. Works on the ADF program include Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder, This I Know For Sure..., Awassa Astrige/Ostrich, and a new ADF commissioned work Indestructible by 2017 "Bessie" award winning choreographer Abby Zbikowski. DCDC's March 2016 performance of Donald McKayle's Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder, featured in the Emmy Award-winning Free to Dance, received a 2016 "Bessie" award for Outstanding Revival. DCDC will also present a special Children's Matinee on Saturday, June 16 at 1pm.

Shen Wei Dance Arts | Photo Stephanie Berger

At DPAC on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday June 17 at 7pm, Shen Wei Dance Arts returns to ADF with its latest work Neither, reflecting on Morton Feldman and Samuel Beckett's 1977 anti-opera of the same name. Headed by acclaimed Chinese artist Shen Wei, the company transcends east and west to forge a startling new hybrid form of dance. The Boston Globe described the choreographer's pieces as "a body of works so strikingly original they defy categorization" drawing on diverse influences that include traditional Chinese culture and arts, European surrealism, American high modernism, and the ritual power of ancient drama. In Neither, Shen Wei immerses his dancers in massive and luminous sets of this own design, illuminated by Jennifer Tipton's exquisite lighting. This performance contains brief nudity.

Pilobolus | Photo Sara D. Davis

At DPAC on Thursday, June 21 and Friday, June 22 at 8pm, crowd favorite Pilobolus, among ADF's best known and most frequent performing groups, returns this year with a collaborative piece created with female indie rocker Thao Nguyen. The new ADF commission features the company's first all-woman trio. The ADF program also includes Gnomen, a lyrical quartet for men with an unusually inventive physical vocabulary, and Day Two, one of the company's earliest works set to a soundtrack from Brian Eno and Talking Heads that captures the awe of evolution. Pilobolus will also perform a Children's Matinee on Saturday, June 23, 1pm. Evening performances contain nudity.

Places Please! Starring Nicole Wolcott & Larry Keigwin | Photo Whitney Browne

On Friday June 22 at 7 and 9pm, Saturday June 23 at 10pm, and Sunday, June 24 at 5 and 7pm, Duke University's newly opened von der Heyden Studio Theater in the Rubenstein Arts Center hosts NYC-based artists Nicole Wolcott & Larry Keigwin in Places Please!, a zany trip backstage in the final moments before the curtain goes up. Wolcott has been called "one of today's finest dance comedians and a knockout dancer" by The New York Times, while ADF alumni Larry Keigwin is a native New Yorker and choreographer who has danced his way from the Metropolitan Opera to downtown clubs to Broadway and back.

Coming Home: ADF Alumni Return | Raja Feather Kelly | Photo Kate Enman

This season, ADF highlights the significant talent that has come out of its school programs with a first-ever ADF Alumni Concert, Coming Home: ADF Alumni Return, in Reynolds Industries Theater on Saturday, June 23 at 7pm and Sunday, June 24 at 2pm. Five choreographers, from a field of over 130 entries, were selected by an all ADF alumni panel to participate. Burr Johnson (ADF student 2006-2009), Raja Feather Kelly (ADF student 2008), Julio Medina (ADF student 2011), Chafin Seymour (ADF student 2010), and Xan Burley and Alex Springer (ADF student 2003) will present an exciting evening of original works.

Tickets to all performances are available at americandancefestival.org and at area box offices.

Moogfest presents a full lineup of free programming + Michael Stipe

2018-05-16T15:26:00.001-05:00

Moogfest, the music, art and technology festival coming up in Durham May 17-20, 2018, will offer an extensive program of free entertainment and exhibits, as well as conversations with cutting edge thinkers and creators, during its run.

On Saturday afternoon, WRAL, Moogfest and the City of Durham/Durham County present the free "Legends On The Lawn" concert at the American Tobacco Campus (ATC) outdoor stage, from 12 noon to 9 p.m. The lineup includes DJ sets by legendary hip-hop DJs and producers Pete Rock of Pete Rock & CL Smooth (7 p.m.) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest (8:15 p.m.), Ayo VIP (6 p.m.), Gudiya (4 p.m.) and Modular On The Spot (12 noon), plus a full-band performance by indie-soul singer-songwriter Moses Sumney (5 p.m.), returning to Moogfest for the second time. Special guest Lord Fess will MC.

The annual Modular on the Spot Picnic kicks off the Saturday afternoon programming at ATC. The outdoor modular synth performance was started in Los Angeles by modular synthesist and skate photographer Eric “Rodent” Cheslak with bassist Bana Haffar. This year’s three-hour picnic offers a laid-back, family-friendly listening environment for a mind-expanding exploration of electronic sound, transitioning into a more upbeat affair as the day progresses. The Modular on the Spot Picnic will feature a rotating cast of performers that includes Cheslak himself, along with Lightbath, Pete Speer, Jake Pugh, Lee Coleman, Jerry Kaba, and previously announced performer and daytime presenter Sarah Belle Reid.

Michael Stipe, lead singer for R.E.M., is one of this year's most recognizable names at Moogfest. Stipe will be premiering the second installment of his dance installation "Thibault Dance" at Moogfest, at the Snow Building, located at 331 W. Main St. next to Beyu Caffe. The audio visual work is original video shot by Stipe in New York City, scored with original music also composed by Stipe. This free installation is open to the public daily during Moogfest, Thursday 12-4 p.m., from 3 p.m. Fri. to 1 a.m. Sat., and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Stipe himself will speak on his current audio-visual work and his creative focus in the post-R.E.M era. He'll also talk with Andy Battaglia from ArtNews about his new book "Michael Stipe: Volume 1" just published by artbook, showcasing his multi-layered artistry narrated with experiences from his youth. The conversation takes place on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Carolina Theatre. Admission requires a festival pass.

Michael Stipe had this to say on his participation this year:

"I get to return to Moogfest with the premiere of the second installment of my dance series, called ‘Thibault Dance’. Creating these portraits means I get to work in video, which I love; with movement and performance, which I love, and with composing music as a reaction, which is new to me. With my band I always had music to write against; in the case of these video portraits I am writing music to movement. It turns the entire process on it’s head. There is a trust between myself and the person I am creating a portrait of— and that relationship, that ‘dance’, is important to me, and to the success of the piece.

"I like working with Moogfest because they pull the most exciting performers and thinkers together in what feels like a future version of what a festival can be, and I get to create an immersive experience with the video piece, and I get to discuss that piece and other work in different mediums with Andy Battaglia. I am very much looking forward to it."

Durham-based label and event series Raund Haus curates a free, three-night series of beatmakers, producers, and DJs from the Triangle at Parts & Labor, the outdoor patio and kitchen at Motorco Music Hall. The future of forward-thinking music production within North Carolina will be explored featuring production and stage design by Raleigh-based studio Mystic Alley. Artists scheduled to perform include Nay Fong, AXNT, Chocolate Rice, Hubbble, Gemynii, Jon Kirby, CALAPSE, and many more. The music begins at 3 p.m. on Thurs., Fri, and Saturday, continuing until well after midnight. Check out a mix of the artists playing at Moogfest on the Raund Haus Facebook page.

Additional free programming at Moogfest includes:

Ralph Steadman’s Harmon-INK! exhibit, on display daily at the American Tobacco Campus Bay 7;
The Modular Marketplace, a bazaar featuring the top designers of boutique music tech tools and their latest creations, daily at American Tobacco Campus Bay 7;
The Moog Pop-Up Factory, where the company live-builds a new, limited edition synthesizer, the just-announced Moog Grandmother synth, onsite at the American Tobacco Campus Bay 7;
Vorticity, a collaborative sonified data installation between Nokia Bell Labs and Delta Sound Labs, that attempts to make the invisible, visible, in the American Underground Foyer, daily until 9 p.m.;
Frivolous Artist: More Metal, live sound & movement installation by Wild Actions in which mover Ginger Wagg engages the audience to pile as much scrap metal on her body as possible, while musician Mike Geary captures these sounds and weaves them into the live sound score, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 4:00pm - 4:45pm, in 21c Gallery 3, 111 Corcoran St.;
Soft Manipulator, a robotics installation by Moritz Simon Geist aka Sonic Robots, a playful interactive installation where 7 audience-controlled mini-robots explore electronic sound production by beating on an array of everyday objects, creating a constantly changing polyrhythmic web of sound and rhythm, daily until 9 p.m. in the Carolina Theatre Foyer;
Infinity: Algorithmic Soundscapes from Magnetic Energy, an immersive environmental sculpture, that invites listeners to relax in a lay-down space for a series of immersive soundscapes facilitated by a new technology, daily in the Carolina Theatre Donor Lounge;
Moogfest Poster and Synth Art Exhibition, American Tobacco collection of Moogfest art posters created for SYNTH: A Group Art Show Inspired by Bob Moog or created by artists inspired by Moog from 2010–2018, daily in the American Tobacco Reed Lobby Art Gallery;
Reverb LP Record Fair, daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the American Tobacco Campus Bay 7;
"these borders that hold me down", an hour-long afrotechnopunk extravaganza featuring DUKE faculty, graduate students, community activists, and SLIPPAGE artists, at the von der Hayden Theater on Duke University Campus, Sat. 3-4 p.m. Buses providing free transportation to/from the von der Hayden Theater on Duke University Campus will depart from West Parrish St slip road next to 21c Museum Hotel at 2:30 pm and 2:45 pm, returning at 4 pm and 4:15 pm.

Also free is The Joyful Noise of STEAM programming, appropriate for children ages 14 and up. A festival ticket is not required to attend the seminars and workshops which cover a wide variety of technology innovations, and are first come first served, with limited capacity, so arrive early. Times and locations vary. Consult the Moogfest program or downloadable phone app for details. Highlights include:

Intro to Patching workshops covering the history of electronic music;
Pop Crackle Crunch, exploring how everyday objects such as tin cans, sandpaper, bubble wrap, and plastic combs can become strange and beautiful musical instruments when amplified with a simple contact microphone presented by Sarah Belle Reid;
Future Bodies, demonstrating the accessibility features of KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series Mk2 keyboards and software;
Breadboarding an 8-bit Synth;
Moog Mandalas, created using paper waveforms accompanied by keyboard music and yoga stretches;
Vinyl DJ 101, featuring Umfang, the globe-trotting DJ;
AI For All, a hands-on workshop using Latent Loops, a tool built with technology from the Magenta project of Google Brain;
NCSU's Library of the Future with hands-on stations featuring virtual reality demos, robots, 3D printers, hackable synthesizers, and more;
Magnetic Soundbath, a new sound meditation system, that calms the body and mind;
Ciani vs Buchla: An Audacious Experiment in Sound Design, an imaginary auditory narrative of a game of tennis played by two of the greats of synthesized sound using Audacity.

THE GLAMOUR AND ROMANCE OF OSCAR DE LA RENTA at the Mint Museum

2018-05-14T12:06:00.000-05:00

commentary and photos by Sally Whaley

My favourite designer Oscar De La Renta came to Charlotte years ago and I was lucky enough to attend his dreamy fashion show so when I was recently invited to the grand opening of the new exhibit “The Glamour and Romance of Oscar De La Renta” at the Mint Museum I was thrilled to be reminded of the influence Oscar has had on me. His unusual mix of fabric colour and textures is something to think about and comes from an era of fashion that hopefully will be back....as all things come full circle. If you love fashion this is really worth checking out. #TheMintMuseum

From the Mint:
The new, custom-curated version of The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta comes to the Mint Museum Randolph following a blockbuster run at Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Celebrating the illustrious life and career of the influential fashion designer, the exhibition contains new additions not seen at other museums, including dresses from the Mint’s own Fashion Collection. The Mint show also pays tribute to a Mint supporter and Charlottean who created the first archives for the late designer.

Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland, one of Oscar's earliest mentors, famously declared, "Pink is the navy blue of India," and the color remained a favorite in the de la Renta evening wear collections.

The petal pink evening dress with capelet of silk organza flowers worn by de la Renta's stepdaughter to the 2011 Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala.

Marianna Sheridan of Charlotte befriended de la Renta and became the first archivist for Oscar de la Renta LLC. She was instrumental in bringing the designer to Charlotte for a 2011 appearance and fashion show at Mint Museum Uptown, and helped bring a dress from the designer’s archives into the Mint’s collection. She passed away in 2017.

Gown worn by Taylor Swift at the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2014 .

Presented in collaboration with Oscar de la Renta, LLC, the exhibition features approximately 50 ensembles sourced from de la Renta’s personal archives, the archives of French label Pierre Balmain, private lenders, and the Mint’s collection. It is curated by André Leon Talley, former editor-at-large for American Vogue magazine and lifelong friend of the designer, who also curated a previous incarnation, entitled Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective, at the de Young Museum in San Francisco in 2016.

"What I try to do with my design is make a woman dream." - Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta (1932–2014), considered among the world’s greatest fashion designers, began his career in the 1950s as an apprentice to the renowned Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga. In 1961, he left Madrid for Paris as an assistant in the couture department of Lanvin. He soon relocated to New York, establishing his own label in 1965. In 1992, de la Renta became a designer for French label Pierre Balmain, becoming the first American designer to helm a French couture house, a position he held until 2002. Throughout his career, de la Renta created award-winning ready-to-wear and evening wear for customers ranging from everyday women to first ladies and celebrities.

One of biggest influences on de la Renta's designs was his time in Spain, where he studied art and met the famous flamenco dancer Pilar Lopez in the 1950s, returning in the '60s see the famous bullfighter Antonio Ordonez in the ring. The black lace and court costumes of Francisco de Goya, the Spanish dancer's ruffled dress, and the tassels and embroideries of bullfighters' uniforms are frequently found in his work.

"What I saw in Spain has colored the way I have looked at clothes ever since." - Oscar de la Renta

De la Renta found more inspirations in the furs and tapestries of Eastern Europe, recalling the lush designs of the royal courts.

Sable and other furs were favorite design elements for de la Renta.

Oscar de la Renta dedicated his career to designing beautiful clothes for every occasion in a woman’s life, from elegant daywear to resplendent evening gowns. The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta exhibition highlights recurring themes found in his designs including the influence of the garden, Spanish and Eastern European influences.

“We are thrilled that the Mint is showcasing Oscar’s extraordinary contributions to the world of fashion, with the help of Oscar’s dear friend André Leon Talley,” said Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta, LLC. “We are honored to pay tribute to our dear friend and colleague Marianna Sheridan and the incalculable contributions she made to the creation of our archive.”

The exhibit remains on view through July 29, with free admission from 5-9 p.m. each Wednesday.

UPDATE: The Oscar de la Renta exhibit has been extended thru August 19, 2018.

The exhibition organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in collaboration with Oscar de la Renta, LLC, is accompanied by a slate of educational programming, including a free public lecture by famed fashion designer Emilio Sosa on May 20. Details are available at mintmuseum.org/happenings. A catalogue and other accompanying merchandise will be on sale in the Mint Museum Shops.

Mint Museum Randolph
2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC
(704) 337-2000
www.mintmuseum.org

An Evening with Bob Schieffer at the Duke Energy Center

2018-05-01T12:58:00.000-05:00

Raleigh, NC—The fifth annual North Carolina Museum of History Foundation Distinguished Lecture Series presents veteran newsman Bob Schieffer, who will speak about "Washington: The Last Four Decades" on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at 7 p.m., at the A. J. Fletcher Opera Theater in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Schieffer understands Washington, DC, like few others—from behind the scenes and behind the camera.

More about Bob Schieffer:

Beloved Washington insider who, as USA Today has said, "has been on a first-name basis with key DC figures for decades."
One of few journalists to have covered the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, and Capitol Hill.
Served as Face the Nation moderator (1991–2015), CBS Evening News anchor (2005–2006), and 60 Minutes moderator (1973–1996).
Interviewed every US president from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama, as well as most candidates who sought the office.
Author of "Over Load: Finding the Truth in Today's Deluge of News"

Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or in person at the Duke Energy Center box office on South Street. For more information, call 919-807-7873.

North Carolina Women Making History Exhibit in Elizabeth City

2018-03-12T15:06:00.000-05:00

Charlotte Hawkins Brown courtesy of State Archives of North Carolina

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Museum of the Albemarle opened its newest exhibit, North Carolina Women Making History, on March 9, 2018. The 12-panel wall exhibit depicts photos of the ordinary lives of women who have lived and worked in North Carolina over the past four hundred years, as well as some of the state's most notable female inhabitants.

Panels show young girls working in textile mills, students at Elizabeth City State Colored Normal School, female nurses during World War II, women protesting the use of nuclear power, and a Cherokee woman in her mountain home. The exhibit also tells of the lives of women such as:

Penelope Barker, who held the NC Tea Party in Edenton;
Harriet Jacobs, a former slave and author also from Edenton;
Charlotte Hawkins Brown, who opened the Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, NC, now a NC Historic Site;
Lillian Exum Clement, first woman elected to the NC General Assembly.

Penelope Barker courtesy of the North Carolina Museum of History

Produced in the 1990s by the North Carolina Museum of History as part of the North Carolina Women's History Project, the exhibit will be on display at the Museum of the Albemarle until June 30, 2018. After that time, the exhibit will be available for travel to regional institutions.

The exhibit is free and open to the general public.

The Museum of the Albemarle

501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC

(252) 335-1453

www.museumofthealbemarle.com.

Billy Graham: The World’s Evangelist Continues his Crusade

2018-02-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

Billy Graham, 1918 - 2018

Text and photos by Renee Wright
[originally published in North Carolina Magazine]

A Tour of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC

At first glance, the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte doesn’t look like a library—or even a museum. It looks like a dairy barn.

The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC

In fact, it probably looks a lot like the Graham farm where the famous evangelist grew up, just four miles away on Park Road.

Inside, it doesn’t look much like a library either. The lobby recreates the sights and sounds of a dairy barn with milk cans, bales of hay, the clucking of chickens, an old delivery truck and—yes—Bessie, the talking cow.

Bessie the Singing Cow, and a photo of Billy as a young man

Actually she sings, too. And if the people gathered around her stall are any indication, she’s a real crowd-pleaser with her stories of “Billy Frank” milking her in the early morning with cold hands and practicing his preaching on her.

In the tour he conducted for the media just before the $27 million library opened in 2007, Franklin Graham, son of Dr. Billy Graham and himself an evangelist, said the barn motif represents the real start of his father’s remarkable career. “This is where he began,” the younger Graham said. “It didn’t begin in a stadium.”

Bessie keeps visitors entertained until the doors leading to the heart of the library open. Admission is free, but new groups enter every ten minutes to keep crowding to a minimum.

Franklin Graham at the press opening of the Billy Graham Library, 2007

Titled “A Journey of Faith,” the library’s state-of-the-art exhibits detail the evolution of Graham’s ministry from the days of the “canvas cathedral” in Los Angeles, where Graham conducted a record-breaking eight-week campaign in 1949, to the present day and the ends of the earth.

Although Franklin said his father thinks there’s “too much Billy Graham” in the 40,000 square foot library, the exhibits also introduce many other evangelists who have worked with and been trained by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) through the years. In one high-tech room, pictures suddenly come to life, as people from around the world tell of their own paths to faith.

Other exhibits tell of Graham’s early and innovative use of broadcast media to spread the Gospel. He first rose to national prominence through his “Hour of Decision” radio show and virtually invented televangelism in 1957.

A special room in the library is dedicated to Ruth Bell Graham, the evangelist’s wife who died soon after the new building was dedicated and is buried on the grounds. Mementoes of her childhood at a mission in China and a reproduction of the Graham’s living room in the couple’s Montreat, N.C., home commemorate a life of devotion to both family and the Gospel.

“This is my favorite room,” Franklin Graham told journalists.

Further on, over a dozen television screens in an appliance store window show newsreels of the troubled times faced by the country during Dr. Graham’s ministry—from the struggle for Civil Rights to the terrorist attacks of 9/11—and his words of consolation and comfort in their wake.

Graham himself has taken an active part in the events of his time, traveling behind the Iron Curtain to preach in the 1970s and ‘80s. His role in helping bring down the Berlin Wall is commemorated in one of the library’s most visually stunning exhibits.

A section of the Berlin Wall in the Billy Graham Library

Presidents Attend the Billy Graham Library Dedication

On the home front, Graham has offered spiritual council to every United States president from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush. Three former presidents, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, were on hand for the library’s dedication on May 31, 2007, to thank Dr. Graham personally.

President George H.W. Bush

Former president Bush delivered the keynote address before a crowd of 1,500 invited guests. With tears in his eyes, Bush thanked Graham for the comfort and council he offered four generations of his family. He also praised him for sparking a moral reawakening around the world.

From the first days of his ministry, the evangelist was a staunch opponent of segregation and prejudice wherever he found them, be it in Georgia or South Africa. Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton told how Graham’s insistence that his crusades be open to both black and white changed history in their communities. “It was a major breakthrough in integrating our county,” Carter said.

President Jimmy Carter

Bill Clinton recalled how the authorities in Little Rock, Ark. tried to pressure Graham to preach to segregated audiences during his crusade of 1959 and how the evangelist refused. “It was the beginning of the end of the old South in my home state,” Clinton said. “I’ll never forget it.”

President Bill Clinton

Graham addressed some 210 million people at 417 crusades in 185 countries and territories during nearly 60 years of spreading the word of Christ. Gallup polls named him among the “Ten Most Admired Men and Women in the World” 60 times, including 43 consecutive years, more than any other person in history.

Billy Graham Library Carries on His Work

Personal mementos of the evangelist's career are on display in four galleries in the library, everything from Presidential medals and Graham’s much-stamped passport, to a fur hat given him on a tour of Russia and guns turned in by converted gang members in New York. Graham’s personal books and papers will also eventually be archived here, as well.

The younger Graham took over the reins at BGEA in 2000 and soon initiated a move from the organization’s headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn. back to his father’s hometown of Charlotte. The 200,000 square foot headquarters building opened in 2005. It houses television and radio production facilities, a 24/7 telephone response center, Internet and Christian Guidance outreaches, and employs some 300 full-time workers.

The move consolidated the family’s ministries in North Carolina. The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove is located on a mountaintop outside of Asheville. Samaritan’s Purse, the international relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, is based in Boone.

The site chosen for BGEA headquarters—and the Billy Graham Library next door—is on 63 acres just off the Billy Graham Parkway. The city of Charlotte named this stretch of expressway near Charlotte Douglas International Airport for its famous native son in 1983.

Billy Graham's Childhood Home

The Graham family’s original two-story brick home has also been moved to the property, lovingly restored and open to visitors.

Billy Graham returned to Charlotte many times during his preaching career. He held one of his earliest revival meetings there in 1947, preaching to over 42,000 people. Most recently, in 1996, over 300,000 came to hear him speak at Bank of America stadium.

When Ruth Graham was laid to rest in a prayer garden next to the new library in June, 2007, it became clear that Billy Graham himself would one day return to the city of his birth on a more permanent basis.

The graves of Billy Graham and his wife Ruth will be in the Library's Prayer Garden

But the Billy Graham Library isn’t intended to be a history of the ministry’s past. BGEA sees it as an investment in the future and a way for Billy Graham’s message to reach new generations.

“A building is only a tool, an instrument. It is not an end in itself,” Rev. Graham said at the dedication. “The important thing is the message that it has to tell. And that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“This is not a memorial to Billy Graham,” his son said. “He would not allow that. Nor is it a museum. This is a ministry, a living crusade.”

Even the animatronic cow plays a part. According to Franklin Graham, Bessie’s job is to capture the imagination of the children. Other exhibits tell of BGEA’s highly successful “My Hope” world television project and the “Dare to Be a Daniel” campaign aimed at the 9-14 age group.

“It’s all about the cross,” Franklin Graham said. “That is the message my father has preached for 60 years.”

Cross imagery is incorporated throughout the library building. A huge glass cross dominates the face of the barn building, allowing light to flood the interior.

After the final video, visitors leave the theater through a tunnel of lighted crosses—an undeniably moving experience.

But the library’s best weapon in the war for salvation remains Billy Graham himself.

In a series of smoothly crafted and emotionally powerful video collages, Graham delivers his trademark altar call and preaches a message of hope for all the world.

Billy Graham at 88 in 2007

“We pray that 50 years from now, this library will still be teaching people about God’s love,” Franklin Graham said.

© 2007 Renee Wright

Billy Graham Library
4330 Westmont Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217
704-401-3200
billygrahamlibrary.org

'Picturing Nam' at the NC Museum of History

2018-02-12T13:11:00.000-05:00

RALEIGH, N.C. – Opening Jan. 24, the North Carolina Museum of History will host a new exhibit called Picturing Nam: US Military Photography of the Vietnam War, a traveling exhibit on loan from the National Archives. The exhibit features selections from the hundreds of thousands of photographs taken by military photographers stationed in Vietnam to document American Armed Forces activities. The exhibit commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, launched in January of 1968.

Unsanitized and uncensored, Picturing Nam's indelible images give an intimate and ground-up view of the war and those who fought it. The exhibit focuses on three photographic themes:

Landscapes: Most Americans knew almost nothing about Vietnam before the war. Many soldiers, sailors and airmen seeing Vietnam's dense jungles, rugged mountains, murky swamps, endless rice paddies and brown rivers for the first time must have felt very far from home.
Objects: Wars are often summed up and remembered through artifacts. The Vietnam War created its own set of memorable objects, many of which appear in military photographs, including helicopters, M-16 rifles, graffiti-covered helmets, Phantom jets, peace symbol necklaces and body bags.
Faces: War puts individuals into extraordinary and dangerous situations. Such circumstances fostered determination, anxiety, exhaustion, boredom, compassion, exaltation and dread —feelings that are seen in the faces of those who were there.

"I am excited because this exhibit will afford younger generations of North Carolinians insight about the conflict in Vietnam and the lasting impact on the United States and the world," said North Carolina Military and Veterans Affairs Secretary Larry Hall. "This incredible collection brings history to life for our up-and-coming generations and provides important illustrations about the world around us today—I am proud of the NC Museum of History and its partners for making Picturing Nam possible."

"Many North Carolinians were called up to serve during the Vietnam War and participated in the Tet Offensive," said Ken Howard, director of the museum. "Picturing Nam honors these brave soldiers, from North Carolina and across the country, with a gritty and realistic view of life on the front lines."

The exhibit will be on display through March 18, 2018.

NC Museum of History

5 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC

919-807-7900

www.ncmuseumofhistory.org

John Peel Pottery hosts Inaugural Firing of Bourry-Box Kiln

2017-10-20T14:52:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth City, NC - John Peel Pottery hosts its grand opening and the first official firing of its newly constructed wood-fired salt kiln on Saturday and Sunday, October 21-22, on the grounds of Peel's 100-year-old farmhouse located at 980 Ham Overman Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909.

The kiln, built with the help of Estonian master kiln builder, Andres Allik, is notable for its bourry-box style in which the flames are pulled down by the draft of the kiln, rather than rising as they do in an open fire. The kiln's inaugural firing will occur over a two-day period, fueled primarily by pine and waste wood. Inside temperatures reach 2300 degrees.

"My interest in clay has always been in designing and making functional work," John Peel says. "I want the people who use my pottery to seek it out in their daily routines and build a connection with its aesthetic and usefulness in their lives."

Peel, a ceramics teacher at Northeastern High School, is known for creating pots with one-of-a-kind finishes and patterns. He received a BFA in ceramics and art education at East Carolina University and has studied with some of the most renowned artists in the field of pottery. Recently he received a scholarship to study at the prestigious Penland School of Crafts in the NC mountains.

For more information, visit www.johnpeelpottery.com