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:
TRIANGLE RESTAURANT WEEK: “Life’s a garden. Dig it.” And … dig in. Get your grub on for the fourth-annual Triangle Restaurant Week as a crop of local restaurants pamper the public by stuffing pie holes with prix-fixe palate pleasers. Polish off three courses for as little as a Jackson (Andrew not Michael). So, eat it. But try to do it without that ridiculous Weird Al song looping in your head. When: Jan. 24-30. Visit TriRestaurantWeek.com for participating eat spots. Three-course meals for just $15 lunch & $20 or $30 dinner. More info
GIRL TALK: DJs tend to bask in sampling the obscure. Girl Talk has been deemed a “Top 40 freak,” which makes for concerts that morph into hedonistic playgrounds and delirious dance parties. So, dance over to Disco Rodeo for the mash-up DJ who makes it a little less shameful to be a radio baby and “throw your hands in the air” as snippet-savvy song splicter Gregg Gillis “shut(s) the club down” at Raleigh’s Disco Rodeo. Oh, and his thing is purportedly TP-ing (Toilet papering) the audience. So at least if you have to pee, you know you’ll be good to go. When: Jan. 27, 9 p.m. $25. More info
ALLAGASH BEER DINNER: Forget “Thirsty Thursday” — Tuesdays can leave you pretty parched, too. So, buzz over to The Bee and get busy on a bevy of brewy goodness for their premiere 2011 beer dinner partnering five delish courses a la chef Jeremy Clayman with five palatable Allagash brews: Victor, Victoria, 2010 Fluxus, Curieux and one “big surprise.” Reserve a seat by emailing info@busybeeraleigh.com. When: Jan. 25. 7 p.m. $50. More info
DESTROY ALL SWEATERS: Weezer said if you destroyed his sweater, he’d be lying on the floor naked. That’s pervy. Most people would probably just punch you in the face. Pound over to Pour House for Destroy All Sweaters Weezer Tribute and see how it all plays out. That could “unravel” to a whole lot of naked, but if nothing else, you’ll come “undone” to some good beats. But protect your sweater. It’s cold outside. When: Jan. 28. 10 p.m.; $5. More info
NHL ALL-STAR WIDE OPEN STREET FESTIVAL: Russian icons: hockey, vodka, Gorbachev’s head. And Alex Ovechkin. Why does that busted grill spawn so many man-crushes? Either way, get a chance to get some face time and get your fix when a host of global and local hockey greats dole Hancocks to frenzied fans. Then fest it up in the streets with beer gardens, food tents, flying aces world-champ trampoline shows, fashion shows, parading mascots, ice slides, snow sledding, street hockey, dance performances, eating contests and 30 music acts across three stages, including a free performance by 3 Doors Down. So you can shake your butt, stuff your face and get rocked like a Hurricane to boot. When: Jan. 28-29. Downtown Raleigh. More info
