Concerts and theater at home, takeout concessions and 10 more Best Bets in the pandemic
Unforgettable (drive-thru) fair food is back this week — can you honestly say you miss those State Fair crowds?) — with plenty of other fun in-person and virtual options around the Triangle. They include drive-in movies and take-home theater Popcorn Fridays (yes, for real, and it ain’t just popcorn) to highballs with a side of history, a “freakshow,” Spoleto streamed and more. Check it out. And #StayStrongTriangle.
History + Highballs
Get some Old North State history on the rocks (is there a better way?) with this History + Highballs event. Grab your fave cocktail and join the North Carolina Museum of History for the adults-only online evening program featuring fascinating stories, places and characters like: How about “Sleepless In Raleigh - Ruminations of a Pandemic Somnambulist” presented by Ebenezer Scrooge — er, Raleigh legend Ira David Wood III (you know the one: award-winning actor, director, playwright, author, founder and executive director of Raleigh’s Theatre In The Park). Wood will share some fave theater stories, plus chat the blessings and frustrations of remaining creative during quarantine. … Cheers! ncmuseumofhistory.org/history-and-highballs
Drive-Thru Fair Food Days
ICYMI, the Fair is in town — or at least the food. Savor the flavor of the best of Fair fare without getting out of your car (#winning) May 29-31 (noon to 8 p.m.). Think funnel cakes, deep-fried Oreos and Snickers, candy apples, Dole Whip floats and more. Enter the fairgrounds parking lot via Trinity Road and order from your car. Drivers are asked to remain in their vehicles, and servers will come to you. Note the event is cash-only. Prices vary from $2 to $10. For a menu and prices, go to twitter.com/NCStateFair. Items subject to change.
V Pizza Drive-In Movies
Channel your inner Danny and Sandy a la “Grease,” and take your date night next-level retro with a drive-in movie in the V Pizza parking lot (good for the fam, solo outings and squad goals too, natch). From Wednesday through Sunday (around 8 p.m.) roll up for a pizza and free flick — and a growler or wine if you’re feeling frisky. Movies are fam-friendly and will be posted to V Pizza’s Facebook and Instagram stories. 1389 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary. vpizza.com
Sylvan Esso Tiny Desk Concert
“Synths from the sofa” can dial up Durham duo @SylvanEsso’s home concert via NPR’s popular Tiny Desk Concerts, which have transformed into Tiny Desk Home Concerts. On the heels of Sylvan Esso’s new April album drop of “WITH,” the Grammy-nominated electro-pop pair’s can’t-miss show is live on YouTube. Per Twitter, the duo will also be “releasing a limited-run (only 1,000 copies) physical version on June 26, including a bunch of cool bundle options with limited-edition posters and shirts from the tour.” sylvanesso.com
Spoleto at Home
You may have to wait until 2021 to return in person to the famed artistic perennial Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., but sating your appetite until then is the epic Spoleto at Home. The virtual series will feature, among others, one of the most anticipated events of Spoleto’s 2020 season: “Omar,” a new opera commission from Greensboro-native Rhiannon Giddens. The opera from the Grammy Award winner and MacArthur Fellow, along with co-composer Michael Abels, is based on the 1831 autobiography of Muslim African scholar Omar Ibn Said, tracing his spiritual journey from his home in Western Africa through his capture and enslavement in the Carolinas. While the opera will now premiere next year at the 2021 Festival, the Spoleto at Home series will provide the public its first preview.
New and archived content can be viewed online through June 7 at spoletousa.org, with “Omar” slated to have streamed a live rehearsal May 22 worth checking out, with acclaimed tenor Jamez McCorkle (cast in the central role of Omar Ibn Said) rehearsing with Giddens, Abels, and Festival Resident Conductor and Director of Orchestral Activities John Kennedy. This digital rehearsal marks the first time McCorkle has worked with the opera’s artistic leaders. The free digital programming will also include digital concerts, jazz talks, a jazz workshop and more.
Spoleto is also partnering with South Carolina ETV to produce weekday radio broadcasts of 11 past Chamber Music programs. Those outside of South Carolina can stream the weekday show online at southcarolinapublicradio.org at 11:00am EST; all listeners must tune in at the scheduled time.
Curbside Concerts
Live music found, thanks to The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop’s can’t-miss concept: Curbside Concerts. With venues closed, The Pour House is innovating the concert concept by delivering a live music experience straight to your door. This batch is available May 28-31 and features a 45-minute amplified outdoor performance at your home, draft beer for 10, two large pizzas from Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, and homemade cookies made by beloved sound engineer Jac Cain. What is required of you: A front or backyard where social distancing guidelines can be followed; agreement to not allow any more than 10 family, friends or neighbors; and an accessible power outlet to power the PA system. Price details at the-pour-house-record-shop.myshopify.com
‘Freakshow’
Well-behaved women rarely make history — and Women’s Theatre Festival isn’t here to argue. Tickets are on sale for “Freakshow”: WTF’s Final Mainstage Production of the 2019-20 “Women Are Wicked” season. Opening May 30, the virtual theatrical spectacular by Carson Kreitzer will be live-streamed, showcasing not just a fab show but manners of staging, set and lighting opportunities explored by the team, who has blazed trails by diving whole-heartedly into adapting the play for Zoom. That includes new broadcasting software to avoid livestream glitches on Zoom and positioning the actors so it looks like they’re sharing the space. Stage management team member Key Alexander says in a release: “Audiences will be surprised by how very connected the cast is, despite being miles apart and how the tech elements meld everything together so seamlessly.” May 29, Midnight Preview Performance; May 30, 8 p.m., Live Performance #1 (followed by opening night reception featuring Firefly Circus); May 31, 5 p.m. Live Performance #2 (followed by post-show talk back); June 5, 8 p.m. LIVE Performance #3; June 6, 8 p.m. LIVE Performance #4. Tickets $10 at freakshowwtf.eventbrite.com.
Seasonal Celebrities: Plants for NC Gardens
Duke Gardens is #goals — and in this week’s free weekly virtual program, Duke Gardens Director of Education and Public Programs Jan Little will introduce you to a palette of beautiful plants for your own garden and school you on which native plant seed is supposed to bring luck and more. May 30 (10 a.m.). Join for one or all Seasonal Celebrities programs here: https://duke.zoom.us/j/97470989726.
Science at Home
It promises to be rawr-some. May 28 (1-1:30 p.m., watch live link) join NC Museum of Natural Sciences and Nature Research Center Research Curator of Paleontology Christian Kammerer as he shares discoveries about dinosaurs, ancient mammals and other prehistoric organisms. Live viewers can type in questions to get real-time answers — appropriate for all ages but geared toward fourth grade and above.
Then, that evening, make like van Gogh for Science for the starry night experience via Café: The End of Night (7-8 p.m., tune in live link). A In this talk based on his critically acclaimed book “The End of Night,” Paul Bogard seeks to restore our awareness of the wildly dark night sky and how it has influenced the human experience across everything from science to art.
Finally, DIY-ers may enjoy such on-demand opps as DIY: Shapes in Nature (a look at one of the most common shapes you’ll find in nature. Spoiler alert: the curve); Nature Neighborhood: Trees to Meet You (learn about characteristics of a tree to help you ID it); or Blog: Tulip Trees, Popular but Not Poplar. naturalsciences.org
Popcorn Friday and Takeout Concessions
Takeout movie theater popcorn — yup. It’s a thing. And local faves Rialto and Six Forks Cinema are on board. Pop up some feel-good fun with Popcorn Friday at both locations (and now, due to popularity, Six Forks Cinema has added Saturday pickup and expanded theater treat options). Treat bae or the kids — or yourself — for a special occasion or for no reason at all. Popcorn starts at $4.50 at the Rialto for 46 ounces. Prices and sizes differ at Six Forks Cinema. View the Six Forks menu for details (and order instructions are here).
In Durham, get your takeout concessions fix at Carolina Theatre Fridays via full concessions menu for takeout from 4 to 8 p.m. (order online at carolinatheatreofdurham.mobilebytes.com). Then sit back, relax and enjoy the show (at home). And remember, as reads Carolina Theatre’s marquee: This is only an intermission.
Cook With Us Live
Vidrio’s Alex Bridges will host an Instagram live @raleighmagazine Cook With Us segment May 29 (4 p.m.) to walk us through how to make their famous Moroccan beef skewers and Oaxaca Flora cocktail. Tune in and chef along.
The Wine Feed: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fundraiser
Have a grape time for a good cause. Join The Wine Feed’s private virtual Zoom class May 28 (6 p.m.) in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to chat three wines with attention to tasting, regions and history. Ask your instructor questions in real-time, take notes and taste wines at any time during the class. Wine will be delivered to you unless otherwise specified (ID check required). Classes will be recorded and sent to attendees so that you may open the bottles at your leisure and re-watch the class information on your own time. Class includes livestream instructor-led presentation, and 3 full bottles of wine. Only 1 class needs to be purchased per household so you can share the wine love! Half of purchase prices will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the Year in honor of Gayle Aiken. $100. thewinefeed.com
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Concerts and theater at home, takeout concessions and 10 more Best Bets in the pandemic."