Drive-in movie, reopened parks and 13 Best Bets to entertain yourself amid pandemic
Updated May 15 at 11 a.m.
North Carolina remains in Phase One until May 22, at the earliest. For now, here are some ways to funtain yourself until Phase Two begins.
Park It
State parks are now open, and for the most part, you can now use their public restrooms. Celebrate flattening the curve with some good, responsible social-distanced fun at your choice of hiking and biking, fishing, boating and more. (PSA: Restrooms will of course be regularly sanitized, and please wash your hands. Bring hand sanitizer and wipes, too, as there may be limited supplies of toilet paper and soap.)
As for Raleigh Parks, “all nature preserve parks will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.” However, bathrooms, campgrounds, athletic courts, dog parks, skate parks, playgrounds, visitor centers, facility rentals and picnic shelters remain closed until at least May 31. For a full list of limitations and openings across the state, visit ncparks.gov/newsroom/alerts [A previous version of this story incorrectly said bathrooms are open at City of Raleigh parks.]
Drive-through Brewgaloo comes to Durham
Brewgaloo had to postpone its huge craft beer festival in downtown Raleigh last month and held a “drive-through Brewgaloo” in its place. Now, Brewgaloo is taking the beer festival on the road, sort of. Virtual Brewgaloo will set up at Hi-Wire Brewing in Durham May 16 from 3 to 5 pm., to sell some of the craft beer the city is known for. That includes beer that normally would have been sold or tasted at seasonal beer festivals, organizers say. Buy a ticket online in advance for a 6-pack ($18) or a 24-pack ($65) of your favorite style of beer. Or be surprised and go for a “Taste of NC,” which includes all styles. Show your ID and ticket through your window, pop open the trunk, and the beer will be placed inside. Shop Local Raleigh, the event organizer, notes that breweries will be paid for their beer. As for the street festival, it has been rescheduled for Aug. 14-15. Hi-Wire Brewing, 800 Taylor St., Durham. brewgaloo.com.
Drive-in movie
Movie theaters continue to be closed, but you can still see movies on the big screen throwback-style. Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre in Henderson has reopened. Check website for showtimes for upcoming films “Jumanji,” “Jumanji: The Next Level,” “The Wretched” and “Trolls World Tour.” Plus, the theater will screen “The Vast of Night,” which is set to debut on Amazon Prime on May 29. But rather than wait to watch it on your couch, get the full movie experience (and get outside safely) at the drive-in. On May 15-16, the film will be screened with 1950s-era pricing for 50 cents per person. Gates open at 6 p.m. Bands will perform at 7:15 p.m. 3336 Raleigh Road, Henderson. (The theater is about an hour from downtown Raleigh). facebook.com/raleighroadtheatre
Pizza Party & Trivia
Pizza, Pizza! May 15 is National Pizza Day and The Wine Feed is here for it. As wine makes the perfect pizza partner, The Wine Feed is picking two bottles to pair perfectly with your ’za ($30) via pickup or delivery. You’ll receive an email with trivia details and some local pizza suggestions. thewinefeed.com
QuaranTunes
North Carolina Theatre is giving you another reason to get jiggy with it via its QuaranTunes playlist on Spotify chock-full of rock, pop and dance faves. For even more theater fun, follow NC Theatre on Insta (@nctheatre) for its Stars in the House video series. Doin’ it for the ’gram. nctheatre.com
Stargazing
Stars, they’re just like us. The NC Theatre’s Stargazing video series features a look back at some of the amazing stars who have graced the NC stage over the past 35 years. Part 1 stars NC Theatre alums: Raleigh natives English Bernhardt (currently on tour with “Mean Girls”) and Tony-winning Beth Leavel (with a dozen Broadway productions to her credit), plus Broadway actor (“Spiderman” and “Bring It On”) Jason Gotay (currently starring in HBO reboot of cult classic “Gossip Girl”) and more. Give it a gander! Head to North Carolina Theatre’s YouTube page.
Theatre Raleigh Virtual
Zooming in on your quarantine dreams, Theatre Raleigh is offering a host of virtual content and classes. Your 6- to 12-year-old got cabin fever? Have them shake it off with a Dance Class with TR fave Victoria Moore (May 13, 3 p.m., $5, 30 minutes) for some fun musical theater choreography. theatreraleigh.com/virtual
Laugh It Up
Always here with the laughs, Goodnights Comedy Club, in partnership with Helium Comedy Club and Bananas Comedy Club, has launched Helium Presents — ”a digital bridge between our clubs and your couch” — aka a new site touting staff faves (think podcasts, music and movies), plus original content by local comedians. Upcoming shows include the likes of a Coast to Coast Roast Regional Rounds (May 15) with fearless hosts Mark Normand and Joe List; and Free Live Drinking Game: Hard, Lonely and Vicious (May 16); and more. Happy laughing!
Science Café: Mini-Tyrannosaurus and the Origin of T. Rex
Ross Gellar-heads, this one’s for you. Want to know how tyrannosaurs ascended the food chain? As part of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Science Café series (May 14, 7-8 p.m.), museum paleontologist Lindsay Zanno will piece together the evolutionary story of the world’s most famous predators via livestream. “Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest and most powerful predators to have walked planet Earth but its origin story has long been a mystery. New research tells us that T. rex ancestors were the size of a deer and lived in the shadow of other colossal carnivores before climate change wreaked havoc on the Cretaceous landscape,” according to an event description. It promises to be a roar of a good time. livestream.com/naturalsciences
Cook With Us Live
Mangia, mangia! This week’s Cook with Us Live on @raleighmagazine’s Insta features chef guest Nunzio Scordo of Driftwood Kitchen & Bar making everyone’s fave: homemade pimento cheese along with a Pimms Cup cocktail. Cheers! Future Friday special guests will include ko.an’s Drew Smith (May 22) and Vidrio’s Andrew Williams (May 29).
Science at Home
Think like a proton and stay positive with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and Nature Research Center’s plethora of Science at Home resources and guided activities (ecoEXPLORE project, anyone? Maybe a little bird observation? Or Red Cabbage pH fun? Take a moment of science with plenty of ops and over 200 science talks for everyone. You can even submit a question to a naturalist online. naturalsciences.org/calendar/science-at-home/
Storytime, Anytime
Every hero has a story. Fall into reading with Wake County Public Libraries’ #storytimeanytime video series online featuring talking, reading (obv), singing, playing and writing to help facilitate reading for children, plus downloadable coloring pages. wakegov.com/libraries
Brovelli Cooking Classes
If cooking is your quarantine passion in progress, tune into Brovelli Oils, Vinegars, & Gifts’ cooking classes with chef Jason as he preps masterpieces with step-by-step instruction, Tuesdays at noon and Fridays at 5 p.m. brovellioil.com
CAM to GO’s Virtual Creation Station + Gallery
Channel your inner Picasso via CAM to GO’s Virtual Creation Station + Gallery. You: create art at home with inspo from current CAM exhibits. CAM: Posts completed projects to its Virtual Gallery and in the Street Gallery windows for people to see as they are walking or driving by CAM. Follow @cam_raleigh on Instagram to peep artwork on display, as well as in CAM’s digital gallery. (Please send pictures of your completed projects to krista.nance@camraleigh.org.)
Marbles Daily Dose of Play
Kids climbing the walls? Team Marbles has your back with 24/7 access to play inspo, playful parenting tips and hands-on learning at home on its website and social media. A recent “Campfire Favorites” does saw Welch in “Hit the Trail” for some campfire faves as he shared “My Bonnie” and “Pizza Man,” along with tips on enjoying songs of your own around a real or imaginary campfire. Want more? Follow on Facebook for daily playful parenting tips, and subscribe to its YouTube channel for an ever-growing video library. Also, check out Marbles-to-Go play activities, Play Posters and more online.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 6:15 AM with the headline "Drive-in movie, reopened parks and 13 Best Bets to entertain yourself amid pandemic."