Cut your own flowers, dine in the park, learn a little science. Your weekend best bets.
Somewhere between the 900 days of March and now, apparently we had a summer. Alas, Labor Day (aka the summer bookend) is upon us. If you aren’t making an exodus to the Carolina coast for some final summer sun and fun, there’s lots of sun and fun to be had here at home, too.
From food and fitness to flowers to farms—with some culture, science, history and live tunes on the rooftop to boot—enjoy the holiday weekend, friends—and, as always, #SpreadLove.
ACR At the Park
If you dig Ashley Christensen’s dishes (who doesn’t) and you miss the N.C. Museum of Art (please stand up), perhaps a coupling of these two culture vultures will whet your appetite. The successful summer pop-up pairing events have been extended, as Christensen brings her food to the museum Thursday to Sundays for ACR at the Park, featuring picnic boxes with recipes from Christensen’s Poole’s Diner and Poole’side Pies as well as sandwiches, ice cream sandwiches and breakfast options. “The Museum Park’s incredible works of art, rolling hills, and shaded nooks offer a one-of-a-kind setting for a picnic experience,” says Museum Director Valerie Hillings. “We’re thrilled to pair this special landscape with the iconic Southern cuisine of Ashley Christensen Restaurants.” Hours are Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Place your order at the Museum’s Blue Ridge Café patio, at the back of the brick East Building near the amphitheater stage. Diners must pre-order with the menu online at 8 a.m. each day. https://ac-restaurants.com/ncma/
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition
If you need an excuse to get out of town, head west and check out “Downton Abbey: The Exhibition” at Biltmore, ending Sept. 7. Celebrating the instant classic TV series, the interactive exhibit features never-before-seen elements that “connect you to your favorite characters, as well as the fashions, locations and historic events of the time period. Showcased in Amherst at Deerpark and The Biltmore Legacy— ‘Downton Abbey: The Exhibition’ pairs seamlessly with the real-life story of the Vanderbilt family.” Access is included with daytime admission.
Get the bat facts!
Enjoy the bat-tastic virtual “Live Chat with Scientists: How to Avoid Being Eaten by Bats” at 11 a.m. Friday (Sept. 4) from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Pretty important stuff. Scientist and bat and moth interactions expert Dr. Nick Dowdy will lead the Q&A about the many ways moths avoid being eaten by bats. Come ready with all of your bat and moth questions! Register now. All ages welcome! naturalsciences.org
Dine & Vibes
Looks like Unscripted has scripted you the perfect holiday weekend. Dinner and music? Don’t mind if we do. Unscripted Durham is here for your live music needs with its weekly Friday Dine & Vibes, this week showcasing live music with DJ Special K playing popular hits on the Patio (Sept. 4, 5–10 p.m.). Then, hang around on Saturday for live instrumental outdoor music with The Wiley Fosters from (6–9 p.m.). Sunday brings you Reggae on the Rooftop (noon–5 p.m.) as you relax poolside with downtown views while DJ Algoriddim brings you a selection of classic, old school reggae mixed live and direct on vinyl. (Free and open to the public 21 and over, no tickets required but reservations recommended.) Round out your Labor Day weekend on the Patio with live music by DJ Angel (noon–5 p.m.) and a special taco dish (choice of three grilled shrimp, steak or chicken tacos topped with cilantro and Bull Salsa) by chef. See you there!
Cut Your Own Flowers
Your haven awaits at Fernrock Farm through the end of September, offering a serene sanctuary where you can stroll through rows of blooms while hummingbirds and butterflies—and, wait for it—cut your own flowers to take home. BYO clippers or scissors; water bottle and closed-toe shoes recommended. On Sept. 8, cut your own flowers to benefit a Wonder Connection, a nonprofit serving children and teens at UNC Hospitals. A reservation is required, so rezzie by going to Store to schedule a time, and choose a pitcher for $25 or a bucket for $40, plus processing fees. Small family private farm tours are also on offer. Visit site for additional information, guidelines, and hours (fernrockfarm.com/cut.shtml) and check the Fernrock Farm Facebook page in the event of inclement weather which could force closing.
African American Cultural Festival Community Mural
“Let’s uplift and inspire through community art” on Saturday, Sept. 5, as #aacfestival has partnered with #CVS & #Artsplosure to create a celebratory mural on the existing plywood boards at CVS on Fayetteville Street in DTR to transform the area into a beautiful, collective thought space and invite courageous conversations. Volunteers needed. See event page for more information.
History at High Noon
Associate Justice Mark Davis of the Supreme Court of North Carolina will speak about his recent book, “A Warren Court of Our Own: The Exum Court and the Expansion of Individual Rights in North Carolina” in this History at High Noon: The Exum Court and Expansion of Individual Rights, Sept. 9 (noon–1 p.m.). Don’t miss this “fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how North Carolina’s highest court functions and a brilliant comparison of the Exum Court, which issued a number of landmark decisions that expanded the individual rights of criminal defendants and the rights of individuals to bring lawsuits against corporations and governments, to the legendary, and also controversial, era of the United States Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Register here.” Visit the site for more information. ncmuseumofhistory.org
Live Event: Robert Kelly
Plans: Binge his Comedy Central special “Robert Kelly: Live at the Village Underground” on Netflix (again, or for the first time), then head over to Comedy Central Friday through Sunday and catch the current co-host of hot top-rated podcast “You Know What Dude?” as he brings his signature brand of humor to Raleigh. See site for showtimes and tickets: goodnightscomedy.com.
The Point 262 Solo Run
The ultimate individual challenge is here Sept. 3–6. While community gathering (and running) is canceled for the foreseeable future, Bull City Running and Fullsteam Brewery have paired up to keep the 100th annual marathon alive with this Point 262 Solo Run, in which you choose your own (short) adventure by picking a .262 path and posting either a pic of you running, a screenshot of your route or snap of your smartwatch (do it for the ’Gram!). Post your action (or still) shot/video over Labor Day weekend by tagging @bullcityrunning and @fullsteambrewery on Instagram or by posting to the Facebook event page discussion thread. You can also email your shot to rundrm@gmail.com. Runners will be picked at random for the Bull City Running Co/Fullsteam prize pack. Extra prizes will be doled for Most Creative Mode of Transportation (in years past: cartwheels, handstands, even a real-time foosball game). Keep the tradition alive! bullcityrunning.com/events/point-262/
A NEW Art Market
To market we go! Hopscotch + Pop-Up Raleigh have joined forces to bring home (literally) this virtual art market Sept. 1–15, in which you can stay home + tune in + buy art—a win-win-win. The market will feat live music streams, past Hopscotch performances, an Insta-ART Auction, fun BAND swag and a NC artist+maker market—and, most importantly, a great way to support NC creatives. Visit the site for more details. popupraleigh.com/2020/07/30/a-new-art-market/
Wellness Wednesdays 2020 Series
Keeping us sane — and in shape — is Wellness Wednesdays: 10 weeks of fitness via two outdoor class times every hump day from local fab fit partners. Five bucks buys you a class that promises to make you sweat, shred, stretch—whichever you’re after. On Sept. 9, feel the burn with Burn Boot Camp. Space is limited so don’t rest on your laurels. Register at eventbrite.com. Credit Union Midtown Park, 4011 Cardinal at North Hills Street, Raleigh; 5 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. northhillsevents.com
2020 Person Street Market in Downtown Raleigh
If you’re in the market for a new market, today’s your day (well, Sunday will be). “Making a (parking) lot happen,” this Person Street Market has turned nothing into a lot of something with a refresh of this unused parking lot into a neighborhood market and mingling spot the first Sunday of each month in the heart of DTR at the corner of Jones and Person streets (across from Gringo-A-Go-Go!). Repping local fresh food, farmers, food trucks, coffee, pastries, hammocks, live music, kids’ games and more you won’t want to miss the premiere market this Sunday (Sept. 6).
Lazy Hound Farms
ICYMI: Spook season is upon us! The first of the local fall farms has opened for the season as of Aug. 22. Roll over to Lazy Hound Farms (207 Davis Road, Zebulon) for all the hay rides, corn maze (+ kiddie maze), tractor-farm fun you can handle. Fear factor: There is also a night-time corn maze. Admission is $8 per person, kids 2 and under free (includes tractor train rides, big slide and playground, kiddie maze, farm animals, and games. Hay ride ($3) and corn maze ($4) are extra. lazyhoundfarm.com