First Community Art Palette

June 2, 2011 – 4:08 pm

This is my favorite freebie this week.  You and your whole family can get your art on by participating in the First Annual Community Palette on Saturday, June 4th at the Carter Building in Downtown Raleigh.

Local residents in Raleigh are invited to participate in a community mural painting project on June 4, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Carter Building, 14 Glenwood Avenue (corner of Glenwood Avenue and Hillsborough Street). This free event is open to children, adults and families.

The theme of the project is “Raleigh: My Dream City.” This is a great fun-filled exciting project for members of the community who will work with guest celebrities and resident artists to create a mural that will be installed on the Carter Building. “You don’t have to be an artist to participate,” says Artist Tunde Afolayan. “This project will help to fulfill the CBA’s mission of building a stronger community through the arts.”

Check back often for the celebrity guest list and the unvieling of the design!

Friday Freebies – May 20th – 22nd

May 19, 2011 – 2:05 pm

Friday Freebie #1
Artsplosure 2011
Raleigh’s Moore Square and City Market
Saturday, May 21: 11am – 7pm
Sunday, May 22: 10am – 5pm

Friday Freebie #2
Sundown in Downtown Benson
Featuring the Embers and Steve Hardy’s Original Beach Party
Friday, May 20th
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Benson Singing Grove located on Main Street
Bring your family and enjoy a concert under the stars.

Friday Freebie #3
Hillsborough Hog Day
Friday, May 20, 6 pm to 10 pm
Saturday, May 21, 9 am to 6 pm
River Park – Behind the Courthouse
Downtown Hillsborough, NC

Now celebrating its 29th Anniversary, Hillsborough Hog Day offers family fun, good food, live music, crafters, merchandise vendors, games and rides, and the area’s largest classic auto show.

The festival starts on Friday night, when pig cooking teams from all over the state roll into town. For the next 12 hours, hams and pork shoulders roast on the cookers and tall tales are exchanged.

When day breaks on Saturday, Hog Day is already bustling with activity. While vendors, who sell everything from video games to handpainted stained glass, set up in the General Merchandise, Food, and Craft areas, you hear a persistent “thunk, thunk, thunk” and you know the pig is ready. The cooking teams chop all their cooked pig and sauce a portion for the Barbecue Tasting Judges. Led by Chief Judge David Hunt, the judges will compare notes and make their final decisions as to the top 5 barbecue cooking teams. Judges for 2010 included Ed Mitchell, the Pitmaster (Executive Chef at The Pit Restaurant in Raleigh), Joel Grodensky, Sales Manager, Rizzo Conference Center, and John Shelton Reed and Dale Volberg Reed, authors of regional food books. They are to be saluted for tasting 36 different barbecues at 8:30 am!

The rest is shuttled to the main tent, where it’s made into sandwiches and pounds of the freshest barbecue in the state. Cash prizes and trophies are awarded for best barbecue (click here for an Application).

The Triangle Thunder Cruisers will present the area’s largest car show, with a car show featuring hot-rods, street rods, classics and vintage automobiles from all over the area. Formed in July, 2007, the Triangle Thunder Cruisers were initially a group of men, small business owners, professionals and the working force mixed in age and race who got together and formed the Triangle Thunder Cruisers with the intent of being a positive impact to the Triangle cities’ youth and civic community. Their message is a simple one and they offer young men the opportunity to tag along with them rather than roam the street in gangs. They encourage their members to each sponsor a youth headed in the wrong direction and bring him along to cruises, car shows and civic duties.

On the stage, the band is warming up for a day full of fine music. In the past, we’ve welcomed The Doc Branch Band, The Craig Woolard Band, Mighty Lester, Terry Anderson & the OAK Team, and American Idol Contestant Heather Cox! Past performers have included The Derek Trucks Band, The Two Dollar Pistols, Coastline Band, Stillhouse, Tres Chicas, Chatham County Line, Mike Cross General Johnson and the Chairman of the Board, and many other locally and nationally famous performers. Come early to get a good seat for the performers!

And the best part: admission to this festival is FREE! What an entertainment bargain!
Orange County’s largest festival, with attendance of up to 35,000 people, is henceforth be held on the 3rd Saturday of May, so mark your calendars.

Friday Freebies – May 6th – 8th

May 6, 2011 – 1:50 pm

FRIDAY FREEBIES.. BROUGHT TO YOU BY SIR WALTER CHEVROLET , CHEVY MOM.COM and My Carolina Today.

1. FIRST.. HEAD TO DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TO THE MUSEUM OF NATIONAL SCIENCES FOR FUN EXHIBITS, SHOPPING, FOOD AND SPIRITS AS THE MUSEUM STAYS OPEN UNTIL 9 P.M.

THE NATURAL HORROR PICTURE SHOW FEATURES A DIFFERENT B-MOVIE CLASSIC EACH MONTH BEGINNING AT 7 P.M.

ARRIVE EARLY FOR LIVE MUSIC AND A FILM SHORT FROM THE A/V GEEKS’
ARCHIVES. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 919.733.7450 X379. FREE.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. NEXT.. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY MAY 7TH @ FARRINGTON RD!!!

“FREE COMIC BOOK DAY” IS TOMORROW AND ULTIMATE COMICS & THE NC COMICON ARE GOING BIG!!! THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TONS OF FREE COMICS AND A HUGE LINE UP OF GUESTS DOING SIGNINGS AND SKETCHES!
LIVE MUSIC @ NOON!

COMICS GUESTS:
*JUST ANNOUNCED* RICH PERROTTA (BOOSTER GOLD)
*JUST ANNOUNCED* DANIEL WAY (DEADPOOL, X-MEN, DAKEN)
JP LEON (EARTH X, DMZ)
TOMMY LEE EDWARDS (TURF, 1985)
BRIAN CLEVINGER (ATOMIC ROBO *FREE MAY 7TH*, CAPTAIN AMERICA)
DALE METTAM (INSPECTOR GADGET *FREE MAY 7TH*)
BROCKTON MCKINNY & LARKIN FORD (EMMH THEORY *COMIC LAUNCH*)
FIRETOWER STUDIOS (ORDER OF DAGONET, PRINCELESS)
LOSTON WALLACE (LORNA RELIC WRANGLER)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Tryon Palace Gardens Free on First Sundays
Gas-price weary travelers in search of vacation discounts can visit the Tryon Palace gardens for free on the first Sunday afternoon of each month through October. Tours of the palace will be discounted, too.

Free First Sundays are from 1 to 6 p.m. Tryon Palace is at 610 Pollock St. Call 252-639-3500 for details about the free garden admission.

One of North Carolina’s more popular historic sites, the Palace was the seat of England’s government in colonial North Carolina. Built between 1767 and 1770 by the royal governor, William Tryon, it became North Carolina’s first official capitol. In addition to the reconstructed palace, the Tryon Palace complex today includes several 18th and 19th century homes, the new North Carolina History Center and the Academy Museum, which interprets life in New Bern during the federal occupation from 1862 through 1865.

The gardens were constructed behind the palace, and show the style and kinds of vegetation popular with the
English during the colonial period. After the Revolutionary War, the palace become home to North Carolina’s first elected governors and is the site of the state legislature’s first meetings. A fire in 1798 destroyed the original building. It was rebuilt more than 150 years later on the original site using the architect’s drawings and archaeological evidence. It is furnished with rare 18th-century English and American objects.

Friday Freebies for 4/14 – 4/17

April 14, 2011 – 2:59 pm
FRIDAY FREEBIES  FOR THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 14TH – 17TH BROUGHT TO YOU BY
SIR WALTER CHEVY AND CHEVY MOM.COM

GARDEN GIVEAWAY
- SATURDAY, APRIL 16TH FROM 9 TO 10 AM
- MOUNT ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH at 15772 N.C.  HIGHWAY 50 IN CLEVELAND COMMUNITY
- GET FREE PLANTS AND SEEDS
- MORE THAN 2000 WILL BE GIVEN OUT
- PLEDGE TO SHARE YOUR HARVEST WITH THOSE IN NEED
_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

THE N.C. MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH
–4TH ANNUAL PLANET EARTH CELEBRATION
– 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 16TH.
–LARGE, FREE FESTIVAL ACROSS THE MUSEUM AND OUTSIDE ON BICENTENNIAL PLAZA AND THE STATE
CAPITOL GROUNDS.
–MORE THAN 100 LOCAL GROUPS THAT FOCUS ON HELPING US ALL LIVE “GREENER.”
– HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS (TUMBLEWEED BOWLING IS A FUN ONE) AND LIVE MUSIC.
– CHATHAM COUNTY LINE WILL PERFORM AT 1:15 P.M. AND 2:45 P.M.
–RECYCLE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND OLD CELL PHONES
–GIANT BURT’S BEES TENT SALE
_____________________________________________________________________________________  

WINGS OVER WAYNE AIR SHOW
– SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
–SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE IN GOLDSBORO
–THIS FREE EVENT FEATURES LIVE MUSIC AND, OF COURSE, ALL KINDS OF AERIAL PERFORMANCES.
–GATES OPEN AT 8 A.M.
–JETS START FLYING AROUND 10 A.M.

 

What’s Happening Week of April 10th

April 11, 2011 – 4:38 pm

Monday, April 11 -

Kristi Yamaguchi: Raleigh Ice Plex – Book signing and talk
Kristi is coming to the Ice Plex April 11 from 6-7 PM to Skate and Sign Her New Book Dream Big Little Pig.
We will have plenty of copies for sale.
Where: The Raleigh IcePlex, 2601 N. Raleigh Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27604
919.878.9002 Fax: 919.878.9363
When: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Who: Families
How: Purchase a book and have it signed Cost: $16.99 F

Tuesday, April 12 

Kristi Yamaguchi Book Signing – Duke Health Raleigh
Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will visit Duke Raleigh Hospital on April 12 and sign copies of her new book, Dream Big Little Pig!
Where: Duke Raleigh Hospital, The Guilded Lily Gift Shop, 3400 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609
When: 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Who: Families
How: Purchase the book and come have it signed. Cost: $16.99

Thursday, April 7

- IMAX Theatre at Marbles
Now Playing: Mars Needs Moms 3D
The Ultimate Wave Tahit 3D
Hubble 3D
Openning Soon: 4/8 Born to be Wild 3D
5/20 Pirates of the Caribbean
On Stranger Tides 3D
6/24 Cars 3D
  Check website for exact dates and times

Where: Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles, 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601When: n/a Who: FamiliesHow: Purchase Tickets  http://www.imaxraleigh.org/tickets/Cost: IMAX Documentary 1-11 $6.50; 12-59 $8.95; 60+ $7.95; College Stdt w/ID $7.95; IMAX Feature 1-11 $9.50; 12-59 $11.95; 60+ $10.95; College Stdt w/ID $10.95; Combo Pass Any IMAX Film & Museum Admit 1-11 $9.95; 12-59 $12.95; 60+ $11.95; College Stdt w/ID $11.95.

Friday Freebies – 4/1

April 1, 2011 – 4:40 pm

First Friday Dance Seen
April 1, 2011 from 7:00-8:30PM with Natalie Marrone and the Dance Cure.

Natalie Marrone- Artistic Director/The Dance Cure recently moved to North Carolina from Ohio where she received her MFA in choreography from Ohio State University.  Since their inception in 1998, Natalie Marrone and The Dance Cure have premiered four evenings of work based on the fusion ofsouthern Italian vernacular dance/rituals and contemporary dance.  In 2002 and 2004 Marrone’s evening length works were honored in the Columbus Dispatch’s “top ten” performances of the year.  Marrone’s choreography and research have been presented nationally and internationally by CORD, NDEO, National Italian Folk Art Federation, American Italian Historical Association, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Abbey Theater of Dublin, Ohio Dance, Ballet Metropolitan, North Carolina Dance Association and on tour with the NC Dance Festival.  Beyond research, Ms. Marrone’s college consulting firm Dance Decisions was featured in Dance Magazine’s 2008 College Guide.  She has served on faculty at Ohio State University, Western Michigan University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Meredith College and Elon University is currently the affiliate artist at Meredith College.

This (mostly) monthly event is free and open to the public and is held at Arts Together, 114 St. Mary’s St., Raleigh. 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
9th Annual Neuse River Cleanup
Please join us Saturday, April 2, 8am to 2pm (Rain or Shine)

Cleanup Sites (* designates boat meet-up sites)  

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEDICINAL HERBS 101

SAT., APRIL 2, 10:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
LECTURES, ETC.
PART OF THE SUNSHINE GARDEN GROUP’S SPRING WORKSHOP SERIES.
FREE @ HOLTON CAREER & RESOURCE CENTER 401 N DRIVER ST IN DURHAM

Great Wolf Lodge Contest

March 18, 2011 – 10:41 am

Enter to win a Great Wolf Lodge Getaway!

One (1) 1 Nite Stay in a Standard Family Suite (2 Queen Beds, Sleeper Sofa, Semi-Private Living area, Microwave, Refrigerator) at the Lodge for a family of 4.

  • 6 Passes to the Water Park inside the Lodge
  • A $250 Gift Card that can be used to purchase an extra nite stay…or pay for food from their restaurants…or buy items from the gift shop…or a combination of these!

Contest Entry: March 21 – April 8 
A Drawing will be held for the winner on April 13, 2011.
For official rules, click here.

To Enter, click here.

Friday Freebees – 3/11

March 11, 2011 – 1:02 pm

Here are my favorite Friday Freebies happening in the Triangle area this weekend for you and your family, brought to you by Sir Walter Chevy and Chevy Mom.com:

1.   The 29th Annual Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on March 12, 2011 in downtown Raleigh. The Parade starts at noon, heading down Raleigh’s famed Fayetteville Street, around the State House and down Blount Street to end at Moore Square. The parade is the second largest in the southeast! Thistledown Tinkers – The Music of the Carolinas series is going green for St. Patrick’s Day with North Carolina’s own Thistledown Tinkers, a powerful music duo featuring Trip Rogers and Tom Eure.  As evident on their new CD, (Pronounced ‘kel-tik), which was released this past fall, these seasoned artists weave traditional Scottish and Irish music with original elements, including their own southern swagger. These musicians have made it their mission to make Celtic music that forces folks to stand up and take notice. This is not the fragile, romanticized Celtic music of movie soundtracks, but rather the kind that makes you sing along and stomp your feet.
Weaving traditional Scottish and Irish music with original creations, Tom Eure and Trip Rogers play an array of instruments, including guitar, fiddle, dulcimer, banjo, and concertina. PineCone cosponsors the performance.
 

The Wearin’ O’ the Green Festival starts as the Parade ends in Moore Square. There will be lots of food, drink and fun! Leprechaun Lane will have fun activities for the kids! Come see the traditional dancers kick up their heels! Local Irish music favorites, Eire Lingus will kick things off on the Shamrock ‘n Roll stage to be followed by Celtic Rock with Homeland!
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Music of the Carolinas: Thistledown Tinkers
   Sunday, Mar. 13
   3–4 p.m.
   North Carolina Museum of History
   Admission – FREE

With an impressive arsenal of acoustic instruments, including guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer, and concertina, in addition to powerful vocal harmonies, this duo will draw you in and make you feel like a part of the show. Thistledown Tinkers deliver the beauty and tradition of Celtic music, new and old, with the guts, showmanship, and attitude of an arena rock band. You will find them wherever kinsmen are gathered and the craic is lively!
___________________________________________________________________________________

3.  Celebrity Dairy Open Barn

      March 12th and 13th, 2011
     1:00pm – 5:00pm
     146 Celebrity Dairy Way
     Siler City, NC 27344
Celebrity Dairy hosts two Open Barn celebrations annually at the beginning and end of their cheese-making season (February and November). During this time, visitors have a standing invitation to stop by, rain or shine.
Simple comfort food (Soups, JohnnyCake, Brownies, hot drinks, etc.) for the hungry will be on sale in the Inn, and some of the first goat cheese of the new year!  November marks the end of cheese-making for now. Taste and purchase a variety of award-winning goat cheese. This year’s kids have now become teenagers and the does are in mid-late gestation. Things slow down at the farm, and it’s a perfect time to visit. Ten miles of trails make for an excellent hike in the woods.  Open Barn is open to the public:
While the Open Barn events are free, we do request a donation tosupport Heifer Project International.

** If you haven’t tried Celebrity Dairy’s goat cheese, you’re missing out.  I highly recommend it – so great in salads and other dishes that need a zinger.

 
Happy Weekend,
Sharon Delaney
 
 

 

 

Friday Freebies – 3/4

March 4, 2011 – 2:27 pm

Weekend of March 4th – 6th, 2011
Friday Freebies brought to you by Sir Walter Chevy and Chevy Mom.com
If you’re looking for fun stuff to do with your family this weekend, here’s a variety of free or very inexpensive activities going on in the Triangle.

1. First Friday is one of Raleigh’s most popular evening escapes. Head to downtown Raleigh on the First Friday of every month for a fun-filled introduction to Raleigh’s exciting art, music and dining scene. Enjoy a free self-guided tour of local art galleries, art studios, museums, retail, restaurants and alternative art venues on the first Friday of every month. Look for the First Friday Flags to easily locate participating venues. A detailed map/guide will be available at each location. Pick up your very own FREE copy for easy event navigation. Visit the galleries and listen to live music. Delight in a divine culinary experience and take advantage of the First Friday Specials offered by all participating restaurants. Experience art in all of its forms!

2. Not exactly free, but pretty cheap:
Durham Bulls Fan Fest
- All ticket buyers will receive a free lunch of ballpark favorites
- Mingle with Wool E. Bull and the Blue Monster
- Bulls’ all time Triple-A homerun and RBI leader Chris Richar will join fans for a game a catch on the field
-11AM-2PM on Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th

3. Playing By Air – Fusion of Circus, Music and Theater
Friday, March 4th at 7:00 pm
Duke Univerity’s Page Auditorium
Admission: FREE

4.  St. Baldrick’s Head Shaving Events
March 5th – Napper Tandy’s in downtown Raleigh at 10:00 am
March 5th – The Hibernian in downtown Raleigh at 12:00 noon
March 5th – The Hibernian in Cary at 1:00 pm

The Traveling Office

March 1, 2011 – 4:37 pm

I don’t know about you, but I always feel like a pack mule.  Between my briefcase, make-up and hair bag (I’m on TV everyday), my lunch bag, my youngest son’s various show and tell items for daycare, my eldest son’s myriad of backpack/lunchbox/saxophone case and jacket, I’m just plain overloaded.  Thank goodness for my car, AKA the traveling office.

We have a 2010 Chevy Traverse. It’s the most functional, comfortable ride we’ve owned to date.  And we’ve had a lot of cars to compare it to over the years.  In fact, we test drove many crossovers and SUV’s before choosing the Traverse.  The folding third row was the final selling point.  It gives us all the room we need for our bi-annual road trips to Florida.  The amount of stuff we piled into the back of the Traverse this past Christmas was down right embarrassing.  But it sure saved us all kinds of cash since we were able to deliver our family’s gifts in person instead of mailing them.  That, and the fact that my husband is a total clothes horse. Yup, my country twanged Georgia born Southern boy loves his clothes.  His suitcase is the size of a small car.

But my day to day life as a Chevy Mom requires as much flexibility, room and style as possible, too.  The flexibility for the extra kids riding with us to karate or baseball practice.  The room so my older son can change into his various sports uniforms without being seen.  And style for me, because I refuse to drive a mommy looking station wagon.

Safe travels,

Sharon Delaney