NC HP Music Festival, Holiday Food + Beverage Treats, ‘A Christmas Carol’ Kicks Off!

MUSIC TO YOUR EARS. The North Carolina HIP Music Festival takes place at various venues in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill from Tuesday, February 7–Sunday, March 5. Mallarmé Music (formerly the Mallarmé Chamber Players) hosts the HIP (Historically Informed Performance) Festival to showcase renaissance, baroque and classical music performed on period instruments with historical performance practices. Purchase a HIPSTER pass for $100 to gain admission to all events. 

The Raleigh Youth Choir will perform its annual Carols of Christmas at Edenton Street United Methodist Church (228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh) on Friday, December 9 at 7 p.m. Additional performances of Carols of Christmas include The Oaks at Whitaker Glen, an assisted living center, on Monday, December 12 at 5 p.m.

HOLIDAY FOOD AND DRINK. Asali is serving holiday specials, including gingerbread cheesecake. Other specialties include eggnog tangerine mousse, peppermint lattes and Christmas tarts. Custom orders for cakes, pies and cookies can be placed through Monday, December 19.

Raleigh’s STIR is hosting Cookies with Santa on Tuesdays and Thursdays through December 20, 1–3 p.m. Milk and cookies are served with each kid’s meal. Gift card purchases of $50 or more include a 20% off bonus gift card. Photo courtesy of Tabletop Media.

Kanki has brought back its Snowball cocktail for December. The creamy and fruity cocktail features Malibu rum and cream of coconut and pairs with hibachi and sushi dinners.

Andy’s Frozen Custard in Morrisville is ringing in the holidays with festive flavors through Tuesday, January 3. Guests can enjoy the brownie-based Santa Brownie Jackhammer, Santa Brownie Sundae and the Andy Nog. Andy’s is offering a $5 bonus card with the purchase of $25 worth of gift cards.

Carolina Brewery will serve its holiday beer, Santa’s Secret, in its Chapel Hill and Pittsboro locations in December. Receive a $5 bonus card with the purchase of a $25 gift card or a $10 bonus card with the purchase of a $50 gift card.

Cafe Root Cellar locations in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro are hosting gingerbread house decorating. The Chapel Hill events are scheduled for Sundays (December 4, 11, 18), 4–6 p.m. The Pittsboro events are scheduled for Saturdays (December 10 and 17), 2–4 p.m.

Chapel Hill’s Jujube has begun offering on-site and off-site catering. The restaurant offers a two-tier menu that accommodates dietary restrictions and allergies.

Dram and Draught continues its annual Repeal Day celebration, raising a glass to the end of prohibition on Monday, December 5. Stop by the Raleigh, Durham or Cary locations for a group photo at 5:30 or 8 p.m.

Sassool’s chicken shawarma nachos are back for the holiday season. The December special is made with chicken shawarma, black bean salad, jalapeno cilantro hummus, Lebanese pickles and tahini. Visit the restaurant’s website for information on catering.

FINE ARTS. The North Carolina Museum of Art will host exhibitions celebrating the accomplishments of two African American artists in 2023. “Michael Richards: Are You Down?” is a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen that will run from Saturday, March 4–Sunday, July 23. “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” runs from Saturday, April 1–Sunday, August 6 and presents intricately designed costumes from popular movies.

The United Arts Council is offering an Internship for Diverse and Emerging Arts Leaders (IDEAL) for undergraduate students from backgrounds underrepresented in arts leadership. Interns are placed with host arts organizations in Wake County and paired with local mentors to guide their personal and professional growth throughout the summer. Internships include a $4,500 pre-tax stipend. Applications are due by Tuesday, January 31.

HOLIDAY CLASSICS. Ira David Wood III’s “A Christmas Carol” takes the stage December 9 at 7 p.m. at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, kicking off the show’s 49th year. The annual musical comedy adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic will be performed in Raleigh through December 11 before it moves to the Durham Performing Arts Center December 14–18. Purchase tickets here. Before you go, get the inside scoop straight from its starring actor in our latest “Talk of the Triangle” podcast episode, featuring IDW III himself. 

The North Carolina Symphony presents treasured holiday classics and carols during its annual “Holiday Pops” concert on Friday, December 9, at noon and 8 p.m., and Saturday, December 10, at 3 and 8 p.m. Performances take place in Meymandi Concert Hall at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. Purchase tickets for $20–$65 here.

Marbles Kids Museum’s Evening With Elves event is Friday, December 9, 6–8:30 p.m. Guests will be treated to s’mores, an arctic museum play and a special visit from the Snowflake Fairy. Kids are encouraged to wear their PJs. Purchase tickets for $25–$30 per person.

ROCK ON. Triangle Rock Club will host a 15th-anniversary party at its Raleigh, Durham and Morrisville locations on Thursday, December 15, 6–8 p.m. The facilities offer equipment for indoor climbing, fitness and yoga.

FOODIE NEWS. Tickets for the 30th annual Triangle Wine & Food Experience go on sale on Thursday, December 8, at 9 a.m. The three-day event runs February 2–4 and features Triangle restaurants and wineries working together to offer guests multicourse menus. The event also includes an auction, and is a fundraiser for the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center.

Chef Scott Crawford will open BRODETO, an Italian-Croatian restaurant, at Raleigh Iron Works in late 2023. Louis Cherry Architecture, which designed the interiors at Crawford’s other establishments (Crawford and Son, Jolie, and Crawford Cookshop), will design the 4,800-square-foot space. BRODETO will feature an open kitchen with a live fire hearth, outdoor dining garden and a large bar.

Tandoori Trail restaurant is now open at 2017 Creekside Landing in Apex. The eatery offers Mughlai and Awadhi dishes, many of which were created more than a century ago. Tandoori Trail is open Tuesday-Sunday for lunch and dinner.

TOP HOSPITAL. WakeMed (Raleigh Campus, North Hospital and Cary Hospital) has been recognized as a 2022–2023 Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report. The media company evaluated nearly 650 hospitals that provide high-quality labor and delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies for this year’s list. WakeMed reported nearly 9,000 births during its 2022 fiscal year.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE. Tri Pointe Homes Raleigh is raffling a custom-built dollhouse and doghouse this holiday season. The custom homes, built by Duncan Parnell, are scaled versions of homes currently being built by Tri Pointe in Raleigh. Purchase raffle tickets online through Sunday, December 18. All proceeds will be donated to Note in the Pocket, a Raleigh nonprofit providing quality clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families.

9Round kickboxing studios in Cary, Downtown Raleigh, Holly Springs and North Raleigh will collect new sweatshirts and sweatpants through December for the Raleigh Rescue Mission. 9Round establishments will donate to the charity for every new membership received.

BIG WINNER. Duke University student Daniel Yaari won $100,000 in tuition at the 14th annual Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway. The event took place at the College Football Conference Championship weekend on Saturday, December 3. Ten finalists took the field at halftime during games in the ACC, Big 12, SEC, Big Ten, and Pac-12, trying to throw the most footballs into an oversized Dr Pepper can in 30 seconds.