Submitted by Melissa Howsam — Correspondent
Monday's blah, but your week doesn't have to be. So, here are some hip haunts and choice events to hit up:
DARIUS RUCKER AND OTHER UNFORGETTABLE FAIR MOMENTS In case you’ve been hiding under a rock – Hootie is a dead blowfish and Darius went country…but apparently puts on quite the crowd-pleasin’ show. So, scoot down the Midway to catch his platinum act. Then, hit up the rest of the hundred rides and dip into this year’s newest food additions—deep-fried Chips Ahoy and Honey Buns, Krispy Kreme burgers and Kool-Aid pickles. Justin Moore takes stage for the Fair finale with his hit single “Small Town USA” from hit self-titled debut album. When: Darius Rucker, Oct. 23, 7:30p, $20. Justin Moore, Oct. 24, 7:30p, $5. More info | NC State Fair Grounds
AUGUST WILSON’S “THE PIANO LESSON”: Director Haskell Fitz-Simons strikes a chord with August Wilson’s Pulitzer-Prize production embodying the African American 20th-century experience, through the lens of a sibling squabble over a family piano carved with images of enslaved ancestors. Set in 1936 in Pittsburgh, Raleigh raises the curtain on this riveting and remarkable drama, what New York Time’s Frank Rich calls “joyously an African-American play: it has its own spacious poetry… seems to sing even when it is talking.” When: Through Oct. 24. Adults $20; seniors/students $16. More info | Raleigh Little Theatre
HOMEBREWED RALEIGH: You can never have too much beer – or, at least too many good beer fests. So, if you didn’t get drunk enough last week at Durham’s best global beerfest, step up to a slew of proximal pints of delish homebrews at Raleigh’s hoppy celebration and kick it to some great tunes. Ticket dollars are donated to the Raleigh City Museum—so, even better, you can bloat your beer belly for a cause. Presented by Raleigh City Museum, Busy Bee Café and New Raleigh. Buzz over to the Bee post fest for their tapping of a Bell’s Brewery cask at 8p. When: Oct. 23, 1-4p and 5-8p. $25 museum members, $30 non-members. More info | Raleigh City Museum
JOEL LANE MUSEUM HOUSE LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING ON “CAROLINA COTTAGE: A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH LANE (JOEL’S BROTHER): Joel’s pretty important, considering his land was doled for our Capitol grounds, and his house is a historic museum. But he had a brother. And his brother had a house, too. Or a “Carolina Cottage.” So, cop a squat at Joel’s historic house with storied author M. Ruth Little and learn about Joseph and his cottage. And they’re ‘ll be cake. Definitely an opportunity worth sinking your teeth into. When: Oct. 21, 7pm. $15 for public, $10 for members of Joel Lane Historical Society. Advanced purchase required. Joel Lane Museum House
