Photo courtesy of Catering Works
TEA TIME. Catering Works will host Autumn Tea at the NCMA Cafe the third Thursday of each month in September, October and November beginning at 10 a.m. The experience features a prix fixe menu including savory canapes, finger sandwiches and fall-inspired patisserie. Premium teas or coffee are included. Make a reservation online. The recommended party size is two, four or six. Photo courtesy of Catering Works.
MUSEUM NEWS. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will host BugFest on Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m–7 p.m. This year’s festival will spotlight spiders, with a particular focus on tarantulas. Learn about the fascinating molting process tarantulas go through and how they can regenerate limbs. Visitors can talk to bug experts, enjoy games and listen to live music. The family event is free.
The North Carolina Museum of Art welcomes a fall exhibit, “Dutch Art in a Global Age: Masterpieces From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston” September 16–January 7. The presentation features paintings by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Gerrit Dou, Jacob van Ruisdael, Rachel Ruysch and other celebrated artists. These artworks are complemented by five paintings from the NCMA’s Dutch collection. Tickets are required; free for members.
The North Carolina Museum of History will unveil “Furniture: Crafting a North Carolina Legacy” at the North Carolina Museum of History Saturday, September 16 at 9 a.m. The show explores, honors and illustrates the ways the furniture industry is woven into North Carolina’s history. The exhibit features furniture from Thomas Day, Biltmore Industries and Craftique Furniture. Admission is free.
SPECIALTY COCKTAILS. More than 20 Triangle restaurants and bars will participate in Negroni Week from Monday, September 18–Sunday, September 24. Participating locations offer specialty Negroni cocktails to raise money for Slow Food, a global movement of local communities and activists across more than 160 countries. Durham’s Alley Twenty Six, The Roof at The Durham, Cary’s Peck and Plume, Raleigh’s The Willard Rooftop Lounge and Raleigh’s Il Falò Wood-Fired Kitchen will all participate.
Whiskey Kitchen at 201 West Martin Street in Raleigh will host “How To: The Cocktail Series” on Tuesday, September 19, 6–9 p.m. Guests will learn to create and customize their own Old Fashioned with the help of the restaurant’s bartenders, who will discuss different flavor notes and techniques. The event is free.
RAISE A GLASS. The Glass Jug Beer Lab celebrates its ninth anniversary with “Rocktoberfest” at its RTP location (5410 Highway 55, Durham) on Saturday, September 16 beginning at 2 p.m. The festival will feature two local rock bands, food trucks, soft pretzels, German lagers and a stein hoisting competition. The featured beer will be The Glass Jug’s Festbier, a German-style amber lager. Other lagers, ales, ciders, seltzers and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
SEASONAL PLANTS. Juniper Level Botanic Garden will host the North Carolina Pollinator Plant Festival during the Fall Open Garden weekends, September 15–17 and September 22–24. Thousands of late summer and early fall pollinator plants will be on display. The site is a 28-acre educational, research and display garden open to the public two weekends each season. The gardens are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free.
RETRO DANCE. American Dance Festival presents Les Ballet Afrik’s “New York is Burning” at Jones Auditorium at Meredith College at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15. The show takes a nostalgic look back at the underground ballroom culture of the 1970s and 1990s. Tickets are $15 and $30. Parking is free.
NEW IN TOWN. Chef–owner Ford Fry will open Little Rey, a Tex–Mex inspired, counter–service taco spot at 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh’s Iron Works in 2024. The 3,100-square-foot space will be centered around “al carbon” cooking and will feature ample indoor seating, a walk-up window and exterior patio seating. Menu staples will include al carbon tacos, traditional street-style tacos and salads and fresh salsas, all on hand-made tortillas. Mexican beers and top local and regional craft ales will be available from a reach-in cooler.
Michael Kors Lifestyle, a new concept store, has opened at Crabtree in Raleigh. The remodel of the 2,448-square-foot store reflects the brand’s new design concept, focusing on pared-down luxury and sophisticated glamor. The offerings include luxury handbags, ready-to-wear items and small leather goods. The store also sells footwear, watches, eyewear and fragrances. The shop will carry a broad assortment of leather goods from the Michael Kors Men’s label.
NEW IN TOWN. Alaksha’s Indian Bistro, Morelia Gourmet Paletas and Noire The Nail Bar will soon join Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh. Alaksha Surti is also the executive chef and owner of local food truck Curry in a Hurry. Morelia Gourmet Paletas offers handcrafted gourmet popsicles and gourmet ice cream bars. Noire The Nail Bar is opening its second local full-service nail salon. Smoky Hollow will eventually support more than 850,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of retail space and more than 1,000 apartments.
CANINE CARE. Sales of a 2024 calendar featuring adopted shelter and rescue dogs will benefit high-risk and special-needs dogs in the care of Perfectly Imperfect Pups (PIPs), a Wake County rescue. The calendar will be available for online purchase from Wednesday, September 13–Thursday November 16. The calendar was created by Five Freedoms Photography, a Raleigh-based pet and rescue photography company.
Another animal rescue effort is underway at Wake County Animal Center. Just one month after issuing an alert to the community that the center would begin euthanizing pets due to a lack of space, the shelter is once again on the brink of reaching its capacity. Staff is pleading with the community for help and waiving adoption fees to find loving homes for 182 homeless pets. All adopted pets are fully vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered before they go home. Regular adoption fees are $95 for dogs, $45 for cats under 5 years old and $15 for older cats. View the adoption gallery here.
HOME + GARDEN. The Southern Ideal Home Show takes place this weekend, September 15–17, at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Get helpful advice, find solutions and check out new products for your next renovation, décor or landscape project. See the exhibitor list and learn more about this year’s show.
REMEMBERING 9/11. As we honor those who lost their lives during the tragedy of 9/11 in New York City in 2001, revisit our “Reflections on 9/11” feature from our September/October 2021 issue. Meet local residents who had unforgettable connections to this day in our nation’s history.
NATURE KIDS. The Museum of Life and Science in Durham has added more events to its Nature Kids series. Through these classes and events, you and your child will explore the natural world through sensory play, games, music, nature walks and other activities.
ON STAGE. Paperhand Puppet Intervention, featuring Nnenna and Pierce Freelon, presents “Where Our Spirits Reside” during two upcoming weekends. The program examines love, transformation and healing. The performances take place at Forest Theater in Chapel Hill from Friday, September 15–Sunday, September 17 as well as at North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh from Friday, September 22–Sunday, September 24. All show times are 7 p.m.
OUT AND ABOUT. Durham Arts Council’s CenterFest takes place Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday, September 17, 11 a.m–5 p.m. Enjoy live music, local art, delicious food and more. The event includes more than 100 artists selling paintings, jewelry, fiber art and other works. Guests will be treated to live performances all day, and children can take part in the Creative Kids Zone. Admission is free with a suggested $5 donation.
