Events

Hey #Atlanta, Looking for fabulous foodie fun with your little ones this #Easter ? Check out #EasterSundayBrunch at Mandarin Oriental Atlanta @MO_Atlanta #MOFoodies #pettingzoo #EasterBrunch #egghunt #EventsbyMO #SundayBrunch

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Every year at Easter many families like to celebrate this holiday with a special brunch. Although there are a myriad of brunch choices in the great city of Atlanta, there is only one that stands above them all. That my friends would be the Easter Brunch event at the Mandarin Oriental Atlanta.

Having stayed at quite a few of their properties (including our luxury family travel stay at their Atlanta location last Spring), what brings me back time and time again is their consistency of a high level of service. Somehow this brand excels at anticipating needs, sometimes before I even realize a need exists. Last visit to this property we were heading out to the mall and the valet suggested he get their house car to take us instead of walking in the summer heat. See what I mean? Their restaurant is no different. Mouth watering farm fresh dishes of every type and a wine list to envy. Located in the upscale Buckhead area, this world renowned luxury hotel pulls out all the stops Easter Brunch on Sunday April 1, 2018.

Besides incredible food and service, we are looking forward to seeing our little one and all the children enjoy their special Easter Egg Hunts. They have one at 12:30pm and another at 2pm. From 3-5pm there will be a visit from Floppy the Easter Bunny! If that is not enough, they will be having an actual petting zoo too from 3pm to 5pm. Our daughter loves animals and will be so surprised to see the petting zoo on Easter Sunday!

This Easter Brunch event is from 11am to 3pm. For one price, guests enjoy a buffet of appetizers, entrées and scrumptious desserts. Prices are $75 per adult and $38 per child up to age 12. To make your reservations, call (404) 995 7500 or you can email to moatl-restaurants@mohg.com. We plan to hop over to the Mandarin Oriental Atlanta and share with you some highlights from this event. Stay tuned for more and hope you are there to make some great family memories this Easter at Mandarin Oriental Atlanta.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL ATLANTA

3376 PEACHTREE RD. NE

ATLANTA, GA 30326

I’m going to DISNEY’S SOCIAL MEDIA MOMS CELEBRATION ON THE ROAD Miami! #DisneySMMC @DisneyMoms #WaltDisneyWednesdays

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Hey there…I have some exciting news to share! A few weeks ago it happened. I got “pixie dust” in the mail. What is emailed pixie dust ? A magical invite from Disney to attend an event. How does it feel to receive pixie dust? Like Happiness! In T-minus 7 days, I am going to Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration On The Road in Miami!

I could not believe my eyes! If your inbox is anything like mine, then it is mostly filled with random emails and delete-worthy messages… not awesome news such as this! I was surprised and also grateful to be invited to learn more about Disney, a brand that I’ve always wanted to work with.

Being a mother of a 6 yr old daughter, Disney has provided many educational moments as well as entertaining ones. Before my little one started kindergarten last year, I was a SAHM (stay at home Mom) who got thru many of our days with the help of Disney related fun!

Year 2015, My first time meeting Miss Pixie Dust herself, Tinkerbell with my daughter at Walt Disney World

As a former South Florida resident, we’ve had the chance to visit a couple of the parks when she was age 3 / 4 and I am looking forward to returning and learning what is new. One of my favorite things about being a lifestyle blogger/influencer, I get the opportunity to be a resource and share what I learn with you!

At the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration “On-The-Road” conference, I’ll have a chance to meet other bloggers, influencers and social media enthusiasts and receive educational inspirational content designed to support the goals and unique lifestyle demands of social media influencers. Per the invite, here is what we can expect:

  • A sneak peek of what’s happening at Disney Parks
  • Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Disney Parks does social media
  • Participate in interactive sessions and hear from a dynamic line-up of speakers

There may even be a few surprises too as I have seen mentioned by other bloggers talking about Disney Social Media Moms events. Yes, I am thrilled to get in on the fun but I am keeping in mind that this is a working conference, as well as a great opportunity to learn something new and meet people with similar interests.

It truly makes my heart happy that I received an invite and could share this wonderful news with you! I put a lot of love in my posts and to be recognized is an honor. Thanks for the invite Disney and to all my followers, THANK YOU! 💖

IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW, ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT ASKED THAT I CAN FIND OUT AT THE CONFERENCE, LET ME KNOW AND I WILL TRY TO GET ANSWERS FOR YOU.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter /Instagram (@SobeSavvy) for more updates + look for #DisneySMMC.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO ANY OF THE DISNEY SOCIAL MEDIA MOMS CONFERENCES OR ANY OF THE DISNEY PARKS? SHARE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY BELOW. ⤵

Event Recap|6th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience @BullCityEXP @DPAC #Durham #Food #Beer #Event

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Yesterday, SobeSavvy.com joined a few thousand others at DPAC for the 6th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience! The word, “experience” accurately depicts this now iconic annual event that I had the pleasure of attending last year and sharing with you again. Enjoying 30 restaurants paired with 30 beers sounds like a great way to spend a ‘Sunday Funday’ especially while raising money and awareness for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association.

Pale Ale, Stout, IPA, and various ciders were all properly represented here. Small local breweries served their craft beer and stood side by side with international powerhouse breweries. They all coexisted perfectly. A few liquor brands, such as Social House Vodka, also served up some samples of their spirits. Durham has such an incredible food and beer culture and this event does an amazing job showcasing it! Check out my facebook photo album highlighting more from this event, here.

Taking up space on all 3 levels of the beautiful DPAC lobbies, this event is always a crowd pleaser and this year was no different. Inside the actual theatre, they had the Stella Artois Onstage Experience featuring County Fare. This year the food in this area was served by various food trucks based in the Triangle. These meals on wheels have now become a staple in the food scene not just here but nationwide. Guests mingled on stage and enjoyed some awesome live music by Big Fat Gap and beer garden games like bean toss. One of my favorites were the dumplings by the food truck Chirba Chirba. One dumpling was pork, the other offering were their veggie dumplings. Simply delicious.

Guess what else coexisted perfectly with all that beer? FOOD OF COURSE ! Over 30 restaurants of every imaginable genre/cuisine was there. From Italian to sushi and EVERYTHING in between. The restaurants participating gave unlimited samples of the dish they were serving. What also makes this event unique is that most tables paired a specific brew for the specific restaurant dish. Some foods pair better with a stout or pale ale and vice versa. Attendees didn’t have to wander far to find the perfect beer for their dish, it was right there alongside it! My favorite part was the opportunity to meet and talk with the Chefs from some of my favorite local restaurants.

If I had to use one word to describe this event, I would say ‘Incredible’! Where else can you experience local food, beer, beverage,craft artisians, all in one place?! The foodie in me appreciates organized events like this that I can partner with and celebrate what is offered here. Watch this video for recap of all the food + beer + fun!

Thanks for reading and hope to see you next year! Cheers 🍻

Do you have a favorite food and beer pairing? Let me know in the comments below!

Event Recap |Fun Times at #GalentinesDayPJBrunch !Celebrating #GalentinesDay in #Raleigh #NC

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Product gifted to SobeSavvy.com by Bedlam Vodka, Hard Candy and Lit Cosmetics

I have never celebrated Galentine’s Day before until this past Saturday when the lovely Nekeyeta Newkirk (Raleigh’s BBU Director, Stylist & Blogger @the_key2style) invited me along with some fellow bloggers and closest friends to a Galentine’s Day Pajama Jam Brunch. I love a great theme party as well as a chance to fellowship with other creatives, so I found me some PJs (shout out Carolina Thrift) and was ready to network and party! But first, I got in a quick mini photoshoot at home because that’s what we bloggers do!

Pajama Set: Soma Intimates, Embraceable Pajama Pants + Top French Scroll Black | Lipstick: Hard Candy Fierce Effects Matte , Crave

If you are like me and never celebrated Galentine’s Day before, it occurs on February 13 and its a chance for women to get together with their friends and celebrate sisterhood, friendship, Valentine’s Day and self-love! It’s a chance to connect with your tribe and support each other. We did all of that over some amazing food and drink of course. Take a look:

THE FOOD + DRINK

The Brunch menu was an amazing fusion of island and southern cuisine with buttermilk waffles including donut, blueberry and red waffle flavors and savory chicken wings sponsored by Big C Waffles + delicious strawberry cupcakes provided by Southern Lady Sweets ! Cohost Laing of Laing & Co., @justlaing, brought the vibes of the island with her saltfish and jerk chicken. Other brunch items like grits, andouille sausage, dumplings, eggs were also on the buffet style spread.

Sangria and speciality cocktails made with Durham’s own Bedlam Vodka were available to enjoy. I highly suggest when you are going to a party and asked to bring an adult beverage, #BringTheBedlam! And feel free to make this Galentine Martini aka Galentini to celebrate on Galentine’s Day or anytime!

THE GIFT BAGS

Parties can be a drag without some kinda of swag..that is a gift bag for your guests to take home to remember how fun it was! The #GalentinesPJBrunch had some great swag bag sponsors. Make sure you check out these brands and upcoming projects:

Original Artwork from @Millifemme

Candles from @habibaloveskenton

Satin Bonnets from @captivatingcaps

Shea Butter Bath Soaps from @nailahs_shea

Upcoming Events

Darkness Rising Project ~ @castcarlita

Upcoming event @baabsbeauty

Upcoming event @shopnoblecompanion

I would like to thank the following SobeSavvy.com gift bag sponsors for the ‘Galentines Day Pajama Jam Brunch’. We randomnly selected a few ladies to go home with the following goodies:

Bedlam Vodka crew super soft t-shirts + Bedlam Vodka mini bottles | @bedlamvodka #bedlamvodka #bringthebedlam

Hard Candy cosmetics | @hardcandylife #hardcandymakeup #hardcandylife

Lit Cosmetics | @litcosmetics #LITCOSMETICS Follow Facebook: www.facebook.com/litcosmetics

…And Crabtree Valley Mall (where I recently went shopping for #MyVioletValentineseries and dining at Brio for Valentine’s Day Preview) and picked up sample goodies from Belk, complimentary dining coupons from Brio and some Crabtree and Evelyn hand cream.

We all had a wonderful time filled with laughs, good eats, great conversation, dancing and pictures of course. Find more of the fun at #GalentinesPJBrunch #BlogBaeBrunch, my instastories @SobeSavvy and my YouTube recap. Until next time ladies…

The Galentines Day PJ Brunch 2018 in Raleigh,NC was so much fun!

Have you celebrated Galentine’s Day before. How do you plan to celebrate this year? Let me know below and Happy Galentine’s & Valentines’s Day to you! 💖💜💖

#BestNine of 2017 + Welcome to 2018 #SobeSavvy #LifestyleBlog

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Happy New Year everyone! In my opinion, 2017 flew by which is why its so important to value time, cherish moments and  capture memories because before you know it a new year is here. I have enjoyed sharing the savvy of my life and inspiring others to be savvy via my lifestyle blog, SobeSavvy.com. In case you missed it, here are the BEST NINE 2017 (from left to right in photo above):

1. Family Travel Guide to Arlington,VA ~ Read this #soTravelsavvy post about where to eat, stay, play for a weekend of fun in Arlington,VA

2. Jill Yoga Girls and Ladies Activewear  ~ Thru my #getLovelyfit fitness journey, my daughter and I had the opportunity to collaborate with a company that combines two of our interests: yoga + fashion. Check out our Mommy & Me moves and learn more about JillYoga.com  >>here.

3. Whispering Angel Rosé Wine       ~Hello, my name is Leslie and I love wine. Not only did I share how to host your own wine tasting at home tips on the blog, but started a #SobeSavvySips series where I share recipes and reviews for not only wine but spirits/beer too. In honor of National Rosé Day, I featured this wine on Instagram. It has been one of my favorite wines to introduce to others. Read wine review >>here.

4. ‘808 Converstion Starters for Couples‘ ~ This book featured on my Instagram and later reviewed on the blog sparked an interest amongst singles that were dating and couples who have been married for awhile. The art of conversation is a dying art with all the texting and ‘sexting’ going on, so I believe this book was refreshing and fun to explore. This book is available to buy >>here.

5. Polished Nail Bar’s Grand Opening      ~ I had a blast at this VIP event for media/bloggers here in Raleigh,NC and have since returned to get my nails ready for the holidays. I highly recommend you treat yourself and a loved one to a mani/pedi for Valentine’s Day (which is right around the corner). Read more about Polished Nail Bar >>here.

6. Our Visit to the North Carolina Zoo       ~My husband ,daughter and I planned a Sunday Funday to the North Carolina Zoo and shared a recap of the visit. Our daughter, fondly referred to on the blog as #outandaboutAva, loved the experience. I also shared some #SobeSavvyTips on why a visit to the zoo during the Fall season should not be missed!

7. Luxury Family Travel to Atlanta,GA    ~ We have enjoyed several family trips to Atlanta because there is so much family fun to be had there. In 2017, we road tripped to the ATL for our daughter’s Spring Break and stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Atlanta. That was a delightful (and relaxing) experience where we enjoyed making many family memories.

8. NC Farm Tour in Asheville,NC        ~This mom got a chance to getaway for a few days and joined other food and travel writers on an agritourism trip to Asheville,NC to get a true farm to table experience. We all left with a greater appeciation of our NC Farmers. That was my first visit to Asheville and staying at a bed and breakfast. I gave readers a #soNCsavvy full recap of the trip on the blog and also shared an inside look of the Sweet Biscuit Inn. 

9. byKikisol in store Fashion Event with Torrid + Groupon Promo                              ~if you ever had the pleasure of attending a byKikisol blogger event here in the Triangle, then you know it’s going to be a fun time for creatives, influencers , bloggers and fashionistas. I got my model on in the dressing room at their Torrid Fall Fashion event and shared a Groupon Promo encouraging readers to grab a deal!

For 2018, as always I do a detox ( which I have shared online in the past..you can read posts here). However, this year I will take the whole month of January to unplug, reset and prepare to bring you more Lifestyle|Food|Travel|Fun stories on the blog! 

Thank you for a wonderful 2017..here’s to all the best in 2018!

Event Recap | #NCMAEbony ‘Behind the Seams ~ Girls in Gowns in the Gallery @ncartmuseum 

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Disclaimer: Thank you to NCMA for providing tickets to facilitate this recap by blog contributor, Kiara Ruth @kiararuth

Beautiful gowns and heels adorned the halls of the North Carolina Art Museum for the Ebony Fashion Fair Behind the Seams, Girls in Gowns in the Gallery event. Burst of colors and personal closet picks were the hallmarks of the night. Celebrating Inspiring Beauty 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair exhibition, the sold-out event featured a lip print analysis by Ariana Lightningstorm who has been featured on Dr. Oz, delicate candy floss provided by Mama’s Sugar Shack and methods for fashion illustration with live demonstration by visual artist Karen Campbell. 

During this event you were able to sip and stroll the galleries with your girls dressed in their best gowns. We were able to view the 40 stunning outfits by Christian Dior, Givenchy, Alexander Mcqueen and many more. Designs from the 60’s to the early 2000’s vibrantly worn by the most beautiful mannequins filled the North Carolina Art Museum. 

This portrait was drawn by Karen Campbell. She was gracious enough to make me look like a Disney Princess. She is amazing, and her talent is out of this world. Visit her website at www.karencampbellartist.com for illustrations and live demonstrations.

During this event my favorite thing to eat was the blue raspberry cotton candy from Mamas Sugar Shack; It was just the right amount of sweet and the perfect addition for any party.

I went with this off the shoulder rose gown from Swoon, a local boutique in Holly Springs, NC. Here are more photos from this lovely event:

Overall the Behind the Seams, Girls in Gown Night was simply amazing. I am extremely grateful that I attended this event. ~Kiara Ruth

If you missed the Behind the Seams event, check out NC Museum of Art’s photo stream >>>>here. Be sure to follow @SobeSavvy, @NCartmuseum and share your experience on social media using hashtag #NCMAebony. 

North Carolina Museum of Art

East Building

Meymandi Exhibition Gallery

October 28, 2017- January 21, 2018

Enjoy Holiday Shopping, Food & Fun thru Dec 24th @BmoreChristmas @BaltimoreMd #BmoreChristmas

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Christmas Village in Baltimore | SobeSavvy.com

Are you ready to shop, dine and be entertained this holiday season? If you are local or have plans to Visit Baltimore, make sure to go to Christmas Village in Baltimore for an experience you will never forget! Celebrating its 5th Anniversary Season, this Authentic German Christmas Market is open now thru December 24, 2017. I went with my husband and our daughter on opening day (Nov. 23 Thanksgiving) and we had so much fun at the Christmas Village, located at the Inner Harbor/West Shore Park. (Between the Maryland Science Center and Visitors Center.) 

You’ll find places to explore both outside and inside at the Christmas Village which has over 50 vendors where you can shop from a truly distinct selection from hard to find international items to seasonal and holiday gifts. We picked up some wooden ornaments from Myroslava Creations for a $1 that our little one can not wait to hang from our tree!

Christmas Village in Baltimore | SHOP for the Holidays

This festival features all things that Germans find dear about celebrating the holidays the German way.  And if you work up an appetite while shopping, you can nosh on Bratwurst, Schnitzel, Gluhwein and more! A hot chocolate with deluxe toppings of whipped cream/ marshmallows served in a collectors mug is a must have for everyone to take home. On weekdays they have wine tastings with Boordy Vineyards and  a “Ho Ho Ho Happy hour” where you can hang out for drinks and snacks with your friends and catch live performances daily!

Christmas Village in Baltimore | FOOD – Enjoy European Specialities & Beverages

In addition to daily live entertainment on the event stage, Christmas Village in Baltimore has a weekend line up of events. SobeSavvy Tip: Admission is free weekdays and this 1st weekend! Today for the opening weekend, you can meet the original German Christkind. Since I knew we would miss it, we took advantage of the fun photo op to turn into the German equivalent to the American children’s Santa Claus. She represents the spirit of Christmas in Germany and will be at the opening ceremony on Saturday, November 25, 2017. 

Christmas Village in Baltimore | FUN for everyone!

So grab the entire family and go experience the German way of celebrating the holidays. See for yourself why this has quickly become a Baltimore favorite. Go to WWW.BALTIMORE-CHRISTMAS.COM for more information. Fröhliche Weihnachten….which means Merry Christmas in German! 

Check out my video photo recap >>> here and make plans to visit this authentic German Christmas market for an experience you will never forget!

Christmas Village in Baltimore

501 Light St

Baltimore, MD 21230

#NC Holiday Happenings | #NCChineseLanternFestival @BoothAmp #KokaBooth in Cary Opens Nov 24 -Get Tix Now! 

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North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival Guide

Looking to experience something magical with your family this holiday
season? Look no further than the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at the Koko Booth Amphitheatre in Cary,NC. Back for it’s third year, SobeSavvy.com attended a media preview of this delightful exhibition and enjoyed learning what it takes to make these larger-than-life holiday lanterns! 

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival |CHINESE LANTERN-Traditional Lamp and Palace Lanterns are very distinctive to the handicrafts which represent happiness.

Hundreds of artistic hand-made lantern displays are spread throughout the expansive grounds, including the spectacular 200-foot Floating Chinese Dragon on Symphony Lake. Each of these magnificient lanterns are shipped from China where artisans hand make the silk fabrics that cover a steel frame. These frames are then lit underneath to give them a bright colorful and warm lighting
effect that is spectacular to see up close! The color red is found throughout most displays due to that color in particular means good fortune in Chinese culture.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival | THE CHINESE LANTERN GALLERY – Since lantern handicraft appeared 2000 years ago, every year before and after the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, people would hang up the red lanterns, which symbolize reunion and happiness, to create a festive atmosphere

Last year, my family and I attended the opening night in 2016 and was amazed at the beauty and artistry of Chinese cutlure displayed in an authentic way. There are hundreds of all-new lantern displays for the whole family to enjoy! Our daughter really enjoy seeing the animals, flowers, shapes and even Santa all aglow! Some of them even spin, twirl and move! Her favorite was the PANDA PARADISE, which we learned that pandas are a symbol of peace in China.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival | PANDAS !

Festival Admission includes Chinese cultural performances, martial arts as well as artisan craft-making. Three performances take place each night where visitors will get a chance to see traditional dance, acrobatics, drum performances and more. We got a chance to have a sneak peek of Chinese Cupe Diablo, which is a form of juggling that has evolved from 12th Century Chinese yo-yo, consisting of an axle and two discs spun using string attached to two hand sticks. Check out my short video clip below : 

SobeSavvy Tip: See Daily Chinese Cultural Art Performances: Tuesday thru Sunday 6:30P | 7:30P |8:30P    

EVENT DATES/TIMES

November 24, 2017 – January 14, 2018
Tuesdays – Sundays: 6pm – 10pm (Closed Mondays. Except Dec 25 & Jan 1)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE!

To purchase tickets over the phone, call ETIX at 1-800-514-3849

In person at the venue Box Office:

BOX OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday-Friday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. EST
On Festival Days (Nov 24 – Jan 14):  Tuesday-Friday 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. EST
Saturday-Sunday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. EST
Closed Mondays

Ticket Prices
Kids 2 and under FREE
Ages 3 – 17 – $10.00
Adults ages 18+ – $15.00

PARKING IS FREE at the venue

HOLIDAY TREATS
Venue Concession Stands will be open selling a variety of food, beverages & Holiday Treats.


DISCOUNTS
Discounts available on SELECT nights only: TUESDAY-THURSDAY & SUNDAYS:
$12.00 FOR SENIORS 55+, COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH ID & MEMBER OF THE MILITARY WITH ID
We offer no discounts on Friday, Saturday & Holidays nights. (Holidays are December 24, 25, 31 & January 1) 

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival | Media Preview Recap by SobeSavvy.com

I definitely recommend you adding this to your holiday to do list of events to check out on the Triangle. Go see why the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival has quickly become a popular holiday tradition. Bring your family, tell your friends and see this wonderful display of Chinese culture before it ends! 

Check out my video photo recap here from the media preview night! Enjoy and be sure to tag your photos including #KokaBooth and #NCChineseLanternFestival ! 

“Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair” @ncartmuseum Upcoming Events + Giveaway #NCMAEbony

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Have you seen the new exhibition at NCMA yet? Recently, I shared with you my Top 5 Reasons To Visit North Carolina Museum of Art Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair Exhibition and I wanted to follow up with some related events you do not want to miss! I also have a #SobeSavvyGiveaway for one lucky reader to win a girls night out to a special event that I will share at the end of this post. 

Here are some upcoming events that I wanted to make sure you had on your radar to go check out. These popular ticketed events sell out quickly, so reserve your spot early! Visit mcartmuseum.org/ebony for more details.

NCMA Fashion Show Ensembles on Display at Crabtree Valley Mall ~ Opening Reception Sat. Nov 11, 12-2pm

Opening Event-Runway Fashion Show in Celebration of Inspiring Beauty | Photo Credit : NCMA

The 12 ensembles from the opening night fashion show event in celebration of the NCMA’s fall exhibition Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair is on display from November 5th thru 17th at Crabtree Valley Mall.

You’re invited to an opening reception to celebrate this pop-up on Saturday, November 11 from noon to 2 pm, where the designers will be floating around to talk and answer questions, as well as representatives from the NCMA.

Shoppers will have the chance to see the ensembles and snap a photo in front of a life-size magazine cover. You’ll be able to get an up-close look at the looks, including the three winners of the evening, in a pop-up fashion show! Whether you missed the opening event or were able to attend, this is a great way to see those fabulous ensembles from North Carolina’s rising designers again.

Located on Lower Level A near H&M, the looks will be on view each day during mall hours (Monday through Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday 12pm-7pm). This is a FREE EVENT and open to the public.

Desiree M. Hendrick, North Carolina A+T State University – first place winner | Photo Credit : NCMA        

Family Fun Saturday: Ready to Wear Art ~ Workshop Sat. Dec 9, 10 am-12p, 1-3pm  

#outandaboutAva enjoys Family Fun Saturday: Couture Cloth workshop at NCMA

There is something for everyone to enjoy and themes to explore while viewing this exhibit. Because I am a mom of a young fashionista, I was happy to see that NCMA had youth/family programming and workshops developed for Inspiring Beauty. On November 4th, my husband and our daughter enjoyed a Daddy-Daughter date at NCMA for Family Fun Saturday: Couture Cloth. Inspired by the colors and patterns found in the clothing on view in Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair, families with children ages 5-11 created their own patterned and printed fabric to make a dynamic work of art! Our little one had so much fun using materials to stamp, write, iron and paint onto her own masterpiece.

In December 9’s workshop, participants will cut, shape, and build a wearable artwork fit for the runway. This family friendly workshop is $5 for Members, $8 Nonmembers and held in the East Building, Education Studios.

Young Artists at Work – Family Fun Saturday at NCMA

SobeSavvy Tip: Let your college student know there is a Free College Night on Friday, November 17, 7-10pm. Admission is free with college ID. No ticket required. This event will pay homage to the five decades of fashion on view in Inspiring Beauty and will feature student work, contemporary dance, and a DJ. Students are encouraged to dress for the runway!

Behind the Seams–Girls in Gowns in the Gallery ~ Special Event 

Girls in Gowns in the Gallery at North Carolina Museum of Art exhibition ‘Inspiring Beauty’

Grab your girls and get ready to twirl in your best gowns on Thursday, November 30 at 6:30 pm in the East Building for a special event~ “Behind the Seams–Girls in Gowns in the Gallery”.  You’ll have a chance to stroll the galleries, enjoy a cocktail, have your lip print analyzed, tour Inspiring Beauty and much more! . Cocktail and treats included. Event ends at 9pm.

#SobeSavvyGiveaway: Behind the Seams–Girls in Gowns. One lucky winner and her guest will enjoy an ultimate girls night out! Enter SobeSavvy Giveaway>>>HERE. Winner will be chosen randomnly on November 16, 2017. GOOD LUCK! 

Be sure to follow @SobeSavvy, @NCartmuseum and share your experience on social media using hashtag #NCMAebony. I am excited to attend the ‘Behind the Seams–Gurls in Gowns in the Gallery’ and will be sure to share some highlights with you. Stay tuned and remember to support the arts!

*UPDATE-CONGRATS TO MARTAMIQUE A. WINNER OF THIS #SobeSavvyGiveaway!*

North Carolina Museum of Art

East Building

Meymandi Exhibition Gallery

October 28, 2017- January 21, 2018

Event Recap|Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival @drinkeatrelax @theyardsdc #oysters #beer #fun

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Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

Hi, my name is Leslie and I am a seafood lover. Considering I was born in Maryland and lived there for 23 years of my life, seafood from the Chesapeake Bay is most likely in my DNA! So when I heard about the Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival, I knew this was going to be a shucking good time!

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC -Capitol Riverfront/The Yards DC

It all went down on October 21, 2017 from noon-6pm at the Capitol Riverfront, next to Nationals Stadium at The Yards Park in Washington,DC . It was the perfect day..sunny skies, high 70s..for an outdoor festival filled with seafood and libations. There were over 30 wines, beers, and spirits to sample along with over 15 types of oysters. The motto of the day was SHUCK. SLURP. REPEAT..oh and watch out for the Angry Mermaid!

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC “Shuck,Slurp,Repeat” ..and 1 Angry Mermaid

FOOD

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC | Oysters served Raw, Grilled, Steamed

Whether you like oysters raw, grilled, or steamed (or if you are like me and enjoy them in all ways), then this festival is for you! Some of the world’s best shuckers were there handling the 1000’s of bivalves with care at this All You Care To Taste event. If oysters are not your thing, there were food truck options, restaurant samplings and other types of seafood such as mussels, clams, shrimp and lobster*(if you were one of the lucky ones to get some). 

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival | New England Clambake, Charleston Seafood Boil & Lobster Steam

Per the Oyster listing, these were served at the festival:

Double T’s ● Shore Things ● War Shore Oyster ● Battle Creek Oyster ● Rocky Shores ● Tatamaguche ● Malpeques ● Fire lakes ● Caribous ● Blues points ● Delaware Bays ● Shooting points ● Bullseye’s ● Salt ponds ● Well fleets ● Duxburys ● Naked cowboys ● Sugar shacks ● Arrow heads ● Caraquets

If I had to choose one (which is a blasphemy to a seafoodie like me) the Blue Points were my favorite served raw. There was a condiment station with lemons, cocktail sauce and horseradish to add to the taste of those briny beauties. The Grilled Oysters with Goat Cheese +BBQ and Garlic +Parmesean were also amazing! I hope to recreate those at home to serve sooner than later.

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival | Freshly shucked Blue Points and Oysters from the grill

DRINK

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC | Souvenir Glass

Upon arrival, VIPs and General Admission guests received a Souvenir Glass to taste over 30 Beers, Spirits and Wines.  That’s right, the event is not all just beer. Included with the ticket price was access to the wine pavilion, where attendees could enjoy pairing with Champagne, Chablis, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and many more!

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival | Wines,Spirits,Beers

 FUN

Friends enjoying the Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival

If you have ever been to a Drink Eat Relax event or festival then you know their goal is to provide a fun, value -oriented experience that wows you and is worthy of your valuable weekend time. I can say after attending this one, between the games, music, drinks and flavorful seafood, I left feeling like the world was my oyster! 

If you saw my Twitter, Instagram, Facebook , I shared more photos from this fun event!  You can also click below to see the following: 

Watch “2017 Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival” on YouTube

Fun Times at Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival

Be sure to follow Drink Eat Relax on Facebook , Twitter , Snapchat, Instagram and drinkeatrelax.com to find out where their next event on the East Coast (from NYC to Tampa) will be! You don’t want to miss it!