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Events in North Carolina

#OutandAboutAva Explores, Rescues, Protects and Reviews #OctonautsLive @DPAC ~Recap by #SobeSavvy .com

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Calling all Cadets! The Octonauts crew has something exciting for you at their brand new Octonauts Live! show.  #OutandAboutAva and I just saw the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure at DPAC and had loads of family fun watching the Octonauts come to life on stage. This high-tech production featured costume characters and animated projections to a massive screen on stage. The audience was filled with kids and families who enjoyed the opportunity to be apart of the action by joining the Octo-Cadets! 

DPAC packed the house on November 11 with fans to see this popular children’s show. The tour comes on the heels of new Octonauts episodes premiering throughout the year on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Seasons one, two and three are also available on Netflix, and the first ever Octonauts 4D movie adventure is coming later this year. But just in case you do not know the Octonauts, they are a very dynamic team of heroes who go on a fast-paced, exciting underwater adventure. Their mission: to explore new underwater worlds, rescue amazing sea creatures and protect the ocean. The group is led by Captain Barnacles the bear, and also includes Kwazii the kitten, Peso the penguin, Dr. Shellington the sea otter, Dashi the dog, Tweak the bunny, Professor Inkling the octopus and Tunip the `vegimal’ (part vegetable, part animal). 

This stage show features sing-a-longs and alot of interactivity with the characters on stage. It was also educational as I learned alot about the ocean. Did you know it had layers like a cake? There’s 3 total: sunlight, twilight and moonlight before hitting the bottom of the ocean floor. Here is more of what you can expect to see at Octonauts Live! https://youtu.be/Bb1Nns8yKMg

Following the show, we attended the Octopod Explorer Party, which I talked about here in my prior post about Octonauts Live. It truly enhanced our Octonauts experience and I recommend upgrading your ticket for the following perks:

Deep Sea Adventure & #FamilyFun Awaits @DPAC #OctonautsLive Nov 11,6pm #Durham #NC @Octonauts

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Durham, NC get ready to Explore. Rescue. Protect! with Octonauts Live! at DPAC November 11 @6pm.

“Octonauts” has a brand new, action-packed and interactive theatre show for the very first time in the U.S ! The Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure features brand new and fan favorite songs led by the entire Octonauts eight-member crew including Captain Barnacles, Lieutenant Kwazii and Medic Peso, as they invite audiences aboard an underwater quest through a world full of adventure, interactivity, and tons of sea life surprises! I am looking forward to having family fun and seeing this show with #OutandAboutAva, as this is one of her favorite shows on Disney Jr. !

The Octonauts live show, produced by Red Light Management & Fiery Light, in association with Silvergate Media, consists of two acts each running about 30 minutes, plus a brief intermission. For more information, visit www.octonautsliveus.com,www.facebook.com/octonautslive or search on social media using #octonautslive.

Savvy Tip: Octonaut Party Explorer Upgrades are now available to all current ticket holders looking to enhance their Octonauts experience. Upgrades include a Meet & Greet / Photo opportunity with Captain Barnacles and Tweak,an interactive Octopod photo booth, activities and games, an exclusive Octonaut Explorer party gift, early venue entry with crowd-free merchandise shopping, and an on-site exploration guide. Upgrade your tickets now: http://www.cidentertainment.com/events/octonauts-tour-2016/

Starting in San Diego on September 22, this tour will head coast-to-coast visiting more than 60 cities this fall. Here is a look at their remaining tour schedule :

November 11 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
November 12 Baltimore, MD Hippodrome Theatre
November 13 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
November 15 Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall Theatre
November 16 Wilkes Barre, PA Kirby Center
November 18 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
November 19 Morristown, NJ Mayo Performing Arts Center
November 20 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
November 22 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Event Center
November 23 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
November 25 Wallingford, CT Toyota Oakdale Theatre
November 26 Brookville, NY Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
November 27 Richmond, VA Carpenter Center
November 29 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
November 30 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
December 1 Ft. Myers, FL Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
December 2 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
December 3 Orlando, FL Dr. Phillips Center
December 4 Miami, FL Fillmore Miami Beach

Hey #Raleigh ! #DisneyOnIce #FollowYourHeart is coming to @PNCArena 12/8~Enter Giveaway 

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​Make unforgettable memories with Mickey, Minnie and all your Disney friends when Disney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart skates into Raleigh, NC at PNC Arena from Thursday December 8, 2016 thru Sunday December 11th. And guess what… SobeSavvy.com has tickets to giveaway to send a family of 4 to opening night of this live production ice-skating extravaganza produced by Feld Entertainment!

Follow your heart straight to adventure at Disney On Ice! Just keep swimming with Dory and new pal Hank from Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory as they set out to find her parents and discover the devotion of family. Cheer with Joy, Sadness, and the rest of the Emotions from Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out as they work together to boost Riley’s spirit and win the big hockey game. Venture to wintery Arendelle where Olaf and Kristoff help reunite royal sisters Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen and learn love is the most powerful magic of all. See Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel and the Disney Princesses make their dreams possible through virtues of bravery, kindness and perseverance. And celebrate true friendship with Buzz Lightyear, Woody and the Toy Story gang. 

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased here. This show is recommended for all ages, so make your family fun plans NOW and get ready to discover the magic of Disney on Ice ! 

Giveaway: One winner will receive a Family 4-pack of tickets to see Disney on Ice presents Follow Your Heart for opening night, Dec. 8th 7pm at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC.  3 ways to enter…

  • Comment below who your favorite Disney character is ???
  • Follow & Comment on the SobeSavvy.com Facebook page here
  • Follow & comment on Instagram page here

Giveaway ends November 28 and winner will be randomly selected and notified shortly thereafter. Good Luck…and don’t forget, sharing is caring!

***Contest has ended. Congrats Kiara Ruth ..you won 4 tickets to see Disney on Ice. Enjoy!****

Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to Disney on Ice in exchange for this post, however I only promote events I believe in and that will appeal to my readers.

#OddSquadLive goes on a mission @DPAC @OddSquadPBS @PBSKids #familyfun #Durham #NC

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On Saturday November 5th, I joined in on some spy fun with my little one to see Odd Squad Live! , an interactive live show based on the popular PBS KIDS program Odd Squad. My 5 year old daughter and her 10 year old cousin were super excited to go on this spy adventure along with many other kids in the Triangle who headed out to the DPAC for some family fun !  

Under the supervision of their favorite agents, the audience got to put their skills to the test to decode the strange and odd occurrences happening. Through digital audience participation, we turned into junior agents and got to interact with the Odd Squad in real time to work together on the very special mission delivered by Miss O to solve an exciting mystery! How cool!

In Odd Squad Live! you got the same weirdness that you get from the tv show, which won a Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Writing in a Children’s Series” but with a twist: The kid agents were turned into adults and it was up to the children in the audience to turn them back! For the live show you can expect singing, dancing, laughing and of course oddness while building math, problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Whether you are a fan of the show or not, you will be entertained during the 90 mins (plus intermission) by the new gadgets, funny villians, and catchy hit songs from the Odd Squad favorite band, Soundcheck !  For more information please go to  OddSquadLive.com , PBS KIDS Website: http://pbskids.org/oddsquad/

1 head plus 2 bodies…Now that’s ODD! 

Be sure to check out what is coming next to the Durham Performing Arts Center at www.DPACnc.com. 

#Raleigh celebrates #Halloween with @NCSymphony The Music of #StarWars Young People’s Concert 

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This beautiful fall afternoon my family and I went to Meymandi Concert Hall for a very special kids event: The North Carolina Symphony Young People’s Comcert The Music Of Star Wars. The iconic movie soundtrack that has now been around for 2 generations was the centerpiece of an afternoon of kid centric fun just in time for this Halloween weekend in Raleigh, NC !

The NCS Kids Young People’s Concerts are perfect for families and children ages 4-12 and a great introduction to the world of music. Each performance features fun, interactive activities related to the concert’s theme, beginning in Meymandi Concert Hall’s Swalin Lobby one hour before the concert. Here is a video of what to expect:

This performance was the first one in the 3 part Young People’s Concert Series for the 2016/17 season and because it was Star Wars themed guests got to take pictures with their favorite costumed Star Wars characters from the all-volunteer 501st Legion!
Make sure to arrive early for all the pre-concert activities, including face painting and our popular Instrument Zoo!

So get dressed up as your favorite Star Wars characters and join in the fun ! Get your tickets to 4pm Raleigh show today or tomorrow’s performance in Wilmington here !

Savvy Tip : See all 3 Young People’s concerts for just $49 when you buy a package ..or 2 concert series for just $30 at ncsymphony.org !

May the Force be with you !

#TastyThursday spotlight on @ZoesKitchen new Kids Menu and more ! #LiveMediterranean 

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Here’s a common dilemma. You’re out and about, hungry and want something for your little one {and yourselves} that does not come in a greasy bag and require waiting in your car talking to a speaker. What to do, where to go ? What if I told you about this place where the food is made fresh in a stylish attractive setting at a even more attractive price ? THAT place is  Zoës Kitchen.

As soon as you walk into this bright, casual dining restaurant, you get a sense that your tastesbuds are in for a treat! Their motto: Tasty, Fresh and Original recipes is something that is very appealing to my family. And if you are really in a hurry, you can call ahead and take your meal to go!

*Here is the number for the North Hills location in Raleigh, NC

Zoës Kitchen recently expanded their kids menu to offer even more wholesome and diverse options and treated SobeSavvy.com to try these with young foodie #OutandAboutAva who happens to love mediterranean food just as much as we do!  Born in Generation Z, she has always been open-minded about trying different foods and very vocal about the things she does not like. What’s cool about their kids meal is that children can customize it! Here’s what they have to choose from:

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My girl decided on the kid sized Shrimp Kabob. Shrimp is her absolute favorite. Sides include hummus, Greek salad, roasted vegetables, pesto farro or fresh fruit! 

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img_4976House made Greek Dressing.

img_5017  My little one and I shared a cup of their delicious lentil soup. It is made from scratch daily and is soooooo good. 

No meal is complete without dessert right? As a member of the clean plate society, she received an award: Zoës Kitchen house baked chocolate chip cookie. It was big enough for all 3 of us to share!

A big cookie gets a big smile !

Here is a slideshow of photos showing more of why Zoës Kitchen is a simple, tasty, and fresh choice for your entire family. Enjoy! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMEfYEkAPpi/
Savvy Tip: Download their ZK app for Android or Apple so you can order online,access their nutrition calculator and keep track of your Zoës Kitchen rewards here !

‘Music, Love, Laughs’ Recap of #LoveJonesTheMusical @DPAC #lovejonesmusical #NC 

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A generation ago, Generation Xers fell hard for a timely realistic urban love story that was the movie entitled, Love Jones. The movie made stars of it’s two main characters portrayed by actors Lorenz Tate and Nia Long. The movie was stylish with poetry reading and a iconic soundtrack that captured the mood of the late 1990’s. We all wished we could feel like that again. We wait no more !

Love Jones The Musical, a stage adaptation of one of the greatest urban films of all time, is touring the US and SobeSavvy.com was invited to review it last night at DPAC in Durham, NC. I am a big fan of this iconic movie and was thrilled to be apart of the 20th anniversary celebration of the film.My guest and I were ready to sing the songs and recite the poetry we all came to know and love, however MC Lyte made the audience aware that:  a) this is not the movie but a musical so expect lots of music b) there will be no poetry from the movie c) there will be no Nia Long or Lorenz Tate but if you want to see them,  watch the movie at home! The audience laughed along and was ready to have a great time!

Originally released as a movie in 1997, Love Jones became a cult classic that captured the imagination of an entire generation! Ask any culturally-aware man or woman over the age of 30 about Love Jones and you will almost certainly encounter a nostalgic, almost reverent, retelling of the classic, yet gritty, love story of Darius and Nina. The brand recognition of this title, amongst the core demographic, is astonishingly universal.
The screenplay, written and directed by Theodore Witcher, brings the title of the movie to life with the help of musical stars Musiq Soulchild, Chrisette Michele, Marsha Ambrosius, MC Lyte, Dave Hollister and Raheem DeVaughn ! Also Michel’le , who recently shared her story in the movie “Surviving Compton” on Lifetime, was there and sung one of my favorite songs “Something In My Heart” ! These stars all have a recognizable catalog of hits which truly made Love Jones – the Musical an event and had us all singing in our seats! 

This show is full of great music and dancing, and is produced with the size and scale of a concert, only with a theme. And that theme is the telling of a classic story that captured the hearts and minds of an entire generation of music and movie lovers.Tony Grant and Chrisette Michele did an amazing job telling the iconic and classic love story of Darius & Nina in Love Jones, the Musical.  I highly recommend seeing it and experiencing a night of r&b , hip hop and soul when Love Jones The Musical comes to your city. 
SobeSavvy tip : If you live in North Carolina, you have more chances to see this show tonight in Charlotte Oct 20 and Fayetteville Nov 9

For more information please go to www.LoveJonesTheMusical.com

To learn what is up next at DPAC, check out www.DPACnc.com 

#Raleigh Rejoice! @American_Girl Store Opens Oct 1 @shopCrabTree ~ Soft Opening Preview Recap

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AMERICAN GIRL opens a temporary store at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, October 1 just in time for the holidays. Excited American Girl fans of all ages and their dolls should definitely make plans to attend this grand opening weekend ! 
Here are the details :

WHEN Saturday, October 1  10 am – 9 pm Sunday, October 2   12 pm – 7 pm

WHERE American Girl Store, Crabtree Valley Mall  *closest mall entrance to American Girl is Sears and the parking Blue Deck.

WHAT During the grand opening celebration, girls will receive a free gift and craft while supplies last, and can enter to win Lea, American Girl’s 2016 Girl of the Year. Mall doors open two hours prior to regular business hours. Entrance Tickets are required and will be distributed one hour before store opening.

My daughter, fondly referred to on the blog as #OutandAboutAva, and I were excited to be invited to Friday’s soft opening and tour. Here is what we saw during our preview of the store : 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLAPdKwDB9J/
To learn more about American Girl or request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005 or visit http://www.americangirl.com, http://www.facebook.com/americangirl, or www.twitter.com/american_girl.
Be sure to make your way before the holidays to this family favorite store and see why parents, educators and girls love American Girl ! Expect to see plenty of the popular American Girl dolls , books, accessories and the signature Doll Hair Salon at the new pop up store in Crabtree Valley Mall. 

To see more pictures of the new store, see here.
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#Durham says “Yeah,Yeah” ! to #KinkyBoots Opening Night Recap @DPAC @KinkyBootsBway

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“Ladies, and gents and those who have yet to make up their mind” came out to DPAC last night for the opening night of the 2013 Tony award winning musical, Kinky Boots ! As part of the Encore Broadway at DPAC series, this must see smash-hit musical makes its return to Durham September 13-18.

The musical, inspired by true events, tells the story of Charlie Price (played by Adam Kaplan), who has big shoes to fill when he inherits a shoe factory from his Dad. Charlie meets a beyond fabulous drag queen named Lola (played by a North Carolina native, J.Harrison Ghee). Together, they both develop a plan to produce a line of high-heeled boots. But not just any boots….sexy, stiletto-heeled, kinky boots! I was motivated to step out in some boots and see this popular production, directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell. Here we are in our kinky boots inspired outfits along with (center) Justin Natvig, aka Vivian Vaughn, who currently holds the title of Miss Gay North Carolina America.

DPAC was prepared to make this a night to remember in the Triangle by having local Drag Queen sensations greet guests with Kinky Boots playbills. We even got to take a selfie with local drag queen sensation, Mary K. Mart !

This Cyndi Lauper (the Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon) scored musical was energetic, playful and fun yet came with a serious message: to accept someone for who they are !  It made me think of the discriminatory NC HB2 law and the Black Lives Matter movement and how relevant this musical is on so many levels. If Charlie and the gender bending Lola can form an unlikely bond over Kinky boots, so can the world! The final number “Raise You Up/Just Be” was my favorite as it summarized the whole theme of finding humanity in everyone. This joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.
So if you asked me if this is a musical to see, my reply would be “Yeah, Yeah”! It’s spectacular score will have you singing for more. The choreographed dance moves will have you feeling the groove. Get ready to have fun with the factory workers of Price & Sons. Look up the word fabulous and Lola’s pic will be there for her style, sass, talent and flair! Along with her girls, Lola and her performances were perfection and is the heart of the show ! Make sure you get a ticket to see Broadway’s huge-hearted, high-heeled hit; Kinky Boots before it goes!

Find tickets online at DPACnc.com, Ticketmaster.com or at The Ticket Center at DPAC, in person or by phone at 919.680.2787.

Here is photo recap of last night’s amazing opening night of Kinky Boots at DPAC ! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKVwuoDDVIT/

#Durham enjoys a night of #RetroSoul @DPAC w/@LeonBridges & @LianneLahavas #ComingHome Tour

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A little more than a year ago Leon Bridges http://leonbridges.com/music-and-video/ was a 23 year old dishwasher in Dallas/Ft.Worth, Texas. He played whatever gigs he could get at local coffee houses there on the side. Tonight he performed before thousands at the DPAC arena in Durham http://www.dpacnc.com/ What a difference a year makes!

He put two of his songs on the Sound Cloud music platform last year that garnered the attention of Columbia Records who promptly signed him to do an album. While his first album was in production, he built further buzz during last year’s SXSW festival in Austin. He was THE topic of the entire festival and his following grew. His debut album entitled, “Coming Home” was released in June 2015. He had arrived. The Album’s title piece became a hit. The album was recorded on Analog straight to tape. This old school method {which D’Angelo also used for his underground album “Messiah”}captures a richness that digital simply cannot. He has been compared to Sam Cooke and the comparison is valid.

Lianne la Havas, http://www.liannelahavas.com/ the acoustic folk alternative singer/guitarist opened for him. This British ingénue has carved out her own little niche amongst her fans. Her crisp playing and song bird delivery was a delight to behold. She performed a few songs from her grammy nominated album, “Blood”. Instead of wardrobe changes, Lianne changed acoustic guitars 3 times during her set! It was A great beginning to a wonderful evening.

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The headliner was up next. Leon’s smooth delivery and stage presence was magnetic. His clothing; bowling shirt and polished brown saddle shoes are an important part of bringing the 50’s and 60’s back to life. But garb alone is not enough for long term success. His talent is unique. He commanded the stage and had the audience in a soul induced trance. I was pulled into the rhythm of his guitar and yesteryear voice. Warm and rich like a warm mug of cocoa on a cold winter evening. Leon is different than everything else out there today and THAT is a good thing indeed.