Party bus gets in gear

Need a twist to the annual Christmas party? How about renting a party bus?

Two disc jockeys have transformed an old school bus into a traveling party scene, complete with a disco light, plush seating for up to 18, a flat-screen TV, DVD player and stereo. And there's enough head room so that riders can stand up, walk around, even dance if they want.

Matt Morabito and Matt Ortosky -- the owners of the bus they call Couch Trip, say they're hoping to give limos and other shuttle services a run for their money. The bus can be reserved for $100 to $125 an hour.

Ortosky says the bus is designed to take partygoers to special events such as proms, football or basketball games. Rent the bus for birthday parties or simply take a group for a spin for a few hours around town.

The duo renovated the bus themselves over the summer in Morabito's driveway. He came up with the idea after seeing a similar bus carting around partiers in Atlanta. "We felt like Raleigh could use something like this," Morabito said.

Find the bus at www.couchtrip.net.

Some restaurants are making news.

Cape Fear Crab House has opened in the old Creamery building on St. Mary's and Johnson streets in Raleigh.

Durham now has dueling Greek restaurants. Theo's Kellari has opened across from Taverna Nikos at Brightleaf Square.

The Duck and Dumpling, a Pan-Asian restaurant, is open near Tir na nOg across from Moore Square in downtown Raleigh by the same owner of the now-closed Mandarin House in Cameron Village.

The owner of Glenwood South's Hibernian Pub is expanding into Cary. Nial Hanley bought the Semolina Pasta building on Kildaire Farm Road and plans to renovate it to duplicate the Raleigh pub.

Champps Americana opens Monday at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh. And Outerbanks Coffeehouse, at Preston Corners at High House Road and Cary Parkway in Cary, is now Mr. Toad's Coffeehouse.

Chic chicks who were planning to make an evening at the Holiday Chic Market, interrupted by Wednesday's ice storm, can get out their date books. Shesheme.com's Kate Coleman Koon has rescheduled the boutique shopping event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday at Bickett Gallery off Bickett Street near Five Points in Raleigh.

Beating the winter blues is easier now in Clayton. SportsWareHouse, a 25,000-square-foot indoor recreation center, has opened off U.S. 70 on Atkinson Street. The center has an indoor soccer and basketball court, batting cages, a skate park and a break area with big-screen televisions.

Barnes & Noble is coming to Brier Creek Commons in North Raleigh. The bookseller has signed a deal to open a 23,000-square-foot store next fall at the center off U.S. 70 near Interstate 540. Mail Boxes Etc. has opened in the same center. ... Bebe is new at Triangle Town Center.