Photos by Beth Shugg
NEW BARS IN TOWN. Sports & Social Cary opened to the public today, February 9, at 4 p.m., and is being followed by the grand opening of PBR Cary, a cowboy bar, at 9 p.m. Earlier today, at 10:30 a.m., Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht welcomed attendees to check out Sports & Social Cary at 301 Fenton Gateway Drive. Following pictures and a ribbon cutting, light refreshments were served and tours of both bars were offered. A Richard Childress Racing “Carolina Cowboys” race car was also on display.
SWEETHEART DEALS. Asali Desserts & Cafe will offer a Totally in Love tote mini and tote deluxe for Valentine’s Day. The mini ($30) is a red velvet cake cup with Swiss buttercream and a floral bouquet. The deluxe ($80) is a vanilla or chocolate cake with fresh strawberries and Swiss buttercream, plus a floral bouquet. STIR in Raleigh will offer a Valentine’s Day menu that includes crab bisque, charbroiled oysters, grilled chicken caprese, grilled salmon and more. Reservations are encouraged. Sassool, a Mediterranean Cafe with locations in Raleigh and Cary, will be serving heart-shaped pizzettes from February 10–14. The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club’s Fairview Dining Room is serving a four-course fixed-price menu on Valentine’s Day from 7–10 p.m. The dinner includes a glass of bubbly and elevated menu selections such as she-crab soup, fried oysters, truffle risotto, filet mignon, halibut, veal ossobuco and an array of desserts for $95. Reservations are available online. Morgan Street Food Hall’s Big League Waffles will be serving a banana split over waffles February 11–19. The plate features homemade liège waffles topped with a banana, a scoop of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, along with chocolate drizzle, cherries and sprinkles. Also at Morgan Street Food Hall, Raleigh Rolls and Bitten Bakery will offer red velvet cake rolls throughout February (available at Raleigh Rolls). The dessert is made with Bitten Bakery’s red velvet cake mixed into ice cream rolls and topped with cream cheese icing and heart-shaped red velvet cake. Experience “Van Gogh With Live Music” at Pleasant Valley Promenade (6240 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh) on Valentine’s Day every half hour beginning at 6 p.m. The 360-degree interactive video show includes next-generation technology and a live musical performance. A general admission ticket provides entry to the exhibit and live concert. Purchase a couples ticket and receive a rose and a box of chocolates. Dram & Draught hosts Galentine’s Day on Sunday, February 12, noon–2 p.m. Locations in Raleigh, Durham and Cary will celebrate with DJs and specialty cocktails.
FOOTBALL FEAST. The Hickory Tavern hosts a $30 buffet at its Cary and Holly Springs locations on Sunday, February 12. Watch football and enjoy all-you-can-eat wings, tenders, nachos, tacos, taters and more, in addition to the regular menu. Prizes will be awarded at the end of each quarter, including free wings for a year at each location. You can also enjoy the football game this Sunday with Dickey’s Big Game Barbecue, a variety of catering packages that includes free delivery with preorders. Order online or through the Dickey’s app using the code SUPER20 on gameday for 20% off on any order.
TOP TEACHERS. Members of the Wake County Public School System central office headed to Cary Wednesday, February 9, to name Karen Dusterberg the Diane Kent-Parker Special Education first-year teach of the year for Wake County. A 2022 graduate of East Carolina University, Dusterberg is a special education teacher at Panther Creek High School, where her students “hang on to her every word,” a WCPSS press release states. Other teachers honored with this award include Betty Cotton, a fifth-grade teacher at Green Magnet Elementary; Joshua Sheppard, a band teacher at Neuse River Middle School; and Megan D’Agostino, a math 1 teacher at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High.
GIVEAWAY! Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken have teamed up for the Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken: Twenty | The Tour April 29 at 7 p.m. at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. We’ve partnered with Koka Booth Amphitheatre to offer two tickets for two winners that include reserved seating plus VIP Café Access and a full-course dinner from 5:30-7 p.m. Enter to win here!
TAKE THE TRAIL. Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space is partnering with Wake County Health and Human Services to feature a special heart-healthy trail at each of its parks and preserves as part of the Year of the Trail celebration. Scan the QR code at the trailhead and complete one of the designated trails for a chance to win a prize pack.
OUT FOR A BITE. Apex Restaurant Week is set for March 20–26 as part of the Town of Apex’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Lunch will include $15 fixed-price menu selections, and dinners will include $30 fixed-price menus. Restaurants wishing to participate in the event can sign up online.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Crawford
AWARD WINNER. Raleigh-based chef and restaurateur Scott Crawford has been named the 2023 Restaurateur of the Year by the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association. Crawford Hospitality’s suite of restaurants including Crawford and Son, Jolie, and Crawford Cookshop.
EASTER TREASURE. Treasurer Quest Mining is offering Easter gift sets available in three themes: gems and minerals, dinosaurs and unicorns. Each treasure-rich gift basket includes a sand pail, sand sifter and a piece of rock candy, along with a certificate for a $12 bucket of mining rough to be used during a future visit.
SPOOKY TOUR. Histories and Haunts of High House: A Twilight Tour takes place Saturday, April 15 and Saturday, April 22 in the High House area of Cary at 6:30 p.m. Katherine Loflin, a local historian and producer, and Al Parker, a folklore and paranormal researcher, will host the event. Ticket confirmation, meet-up location and parking information will be sent via email upon ticket purchase.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE. The American Cancer Society hosts the North Carolina Discovery Ball at The Pavilion at Angus Barn on Friday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. The black tie event begins with a cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by dinner and music from Band of Oz. Tickets begin at $500 and are available through Thursday, February 16.
JOB FAIR. The Carolina Mudcats host their annual job fair on Saturday, February 18, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The team will fill open part-time, game-day and seasonal full-time staff positions for the 2023 season. Applicants should fill out an online application before attending.
Photo courtesy of Lumino City US
LIGHT SHOW. LuminoCity Festival comes to Raleigh’s Pullen Park February 18–April 9, 5:30–9:30 p.m. The illuminated art festival includes a motion dinosaur world and cherry blossoms at night. Tickets are available online.
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. The Museum of Life and Science hosts Kids Night Out February 10, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Drop kids ages 5–10 off for a kids-only evening of hands-on fun. They will eat pizza, play games, explore exhibits and work together on science experiments while parents enjoy a few hours to themselves. The cost is $35/child for members, and $40/child for nonmembers. Upcoming dates include February 10 and 24, March 10 and 24, April 14 and 29, and May 12.
