#FoodieFriday Feature| 5 Reasons to ❤ @BuiltAlston in @ShopAlston + FREE Tots 12/8- 12/10 #BuiltBurgers

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“Hey, a new burger spot is opening, wanna check it out?” That’s how I asked my husband to join me for the VIP Grand Opening of BUILT Custom Burgers, which is located in the Triangle’s New Alston Town Center. I want to think we all have heard about a new burger bar more than we care to remember. Part of it is our assumption that a burger is a burger is a burger. WELL, have I got some news for you….BUILT Custom Burgers is a speciality burger experience that offers a unique take on the classic burger! 

 I asked the marketing manager what sets them apart from the other various burger chains and he responded by challenging me to Five Questions regarding those “other” burger places:

1. Can you choose from 3 different bun choices like Brioche, Wheat or Gluten Free buns?

2. Do they have Applewood Smoked Bacon as a FREE topping? 

3. Do they have a vegan burger option?

4. Is guacamole a free topping at those places? 

5. Are they antibiotic and hormone free?

These 5 Reasons alone would be reason enough to love this place, but ultimately none of that means much if the burger is not good. After trying the ‘Carolina Style’ and the ‘The L.A. WAY’ we both can say their burgers are beyond GOOD! Both were juicy and uber flavorful.  We learned that the patties are made with 100% Angus Beef that is vegetarian-fed. You can also choose all-natural chicken, turkey or vegan veggie burgers made fresh daily from 11 different ingredients – all hand-formed and grilled to order.

No matter if you choose one of their suggested favorites or if you “build your own burger” from scratch, you can’t go wrong. They are a serious contender in any burger war that anyone wants to wage! With four premium protein options, five cheeses, 20 unlimited toppings, 10 flavorful sauces and the choice of three breads or two fresh greens, guests are encouraged to build a burger or bowl to meet their individual preferences. 

SobeSavvy Tip : Starting Friday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 10, all guests will receive a free side of the popular garlic or sweet sriracha tots with the purchase of any burger.

Stop in this fast-casual restaurant today and enjoy customizing your burger your own unique way at BUILT Custom Burgers! To learn more about the BUILT® Custom Burgers Alston location, visit
builtcustomburgers.com and follow along
on Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.

BUILT Custom Burgers

Alston Town Center

5033 Arco Street

Cary, NC 27519

Family Fun|Opening Night Review #DisneyOnIce presents Dare to Dream @PNCArena in #Raleigh 12/6-12/10!

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​Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to review the show, however any opinions are my own.

On Wednesday Dec 6, my husband, daughter and I joined other families for a chance to celebrate what’s possible at Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream! Now showing at the PNC Arena until Dec 10, 2017, this show follows the adventures of five daring Disney heroines who’s mission is to spark the courage inside us all. Here is more about the show:

In her Disney On Ice debut, see how far Moana will go when she embarks on an action-packed voyage with mighty demigod Maui in a quest to save her island, become a wayfinder, and find her own identity. Anna’s devotion to her estranged sister Elsa sets her on a perilous journey to mend their bond, and stop an eternal winter. Rapunzel breaks out of her tower and teams up with an unlikely companion, Flynn Rider, as she goes to great lengths to realize her dream. Armed only with courage, Belle befriends the enchanted castle staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s rough exterior. With help from her friends and a little magic, Cinderella is determined to make the wish in her heart come true. Hosted by Mickey and Minnie, discover why no dream is too big when we find the strength to shape our own destiny at Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream!

SobeSavvy Tip: Make sure you get there early to have some time to walk through the concourse and browse some of the novelty stands. There is plenty of awesome Disney merchandise to choose from!

There’s also face painting and a Disney photo booth to enjoy prior to the show or during the brief intermission. A keepsake mug is a must for our daughter. So after some high level discussions on what style of cup she wanted, we settled on a souvenir Mickey Mouse snow cone mug and some cotton candy {which comes with a crown with Mickey Mouse ears}! 

We got to our seats just in time as the lights were dimmed and the show began. Belle from Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, Frozen’s Anna & Elsa and Moana were the heroines of the evening. Each main character had their own unique elaborate sets and scenes straight from the big screen played out on ice with plenty of special effects and all the sing along sets we have come to love. Watching my 6 yr old enchanted by all the Disney Magic just made me feel like a kid myself all over again. He denied it, but I swear I caught my husband singing along with a ‘Shiny’ singing crab from Moana! I mean when was the last time you saw a crab dance and skate on ice?!

Disney is known for putting on a top notch show, whether on land or ice and this one did not disappoint. It snowed, got windy, had aerial acrobatics and even had a huge dancing horse. It’s a whole lot of magic and family fun with important life lessons for everyone. The Disney Heroines reminded us to face fears, be courageous, dare to dream and ……. ⤵

Join the magic now until Dec 10 at the PNC Arena. For more information about the show go to http://www.disneyonice.com. Tickets are available for purchase >>> here. 

Watch this video of more #DisneyOnIce magic moments from opening night here in Raleigh,NC at PNC! 

Concert Review | The Great Xscape Tour @ThegroupXscape @MonicaBrown @TamarBraxtonHer #pncarena 

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Last night the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC was packed with fans ready to escape back to the 90’s with the iconic group Xscape. By now you know that all the members have reunited for “The Great Xscape Tour” and let me tell you the platinum selling R&B quartet have not lost their amazing singing skills. As a matter of fact, all the ladies on this tour put on a great performance! 

Opening the show was the all female group June’s Diary, who shared their vocal skills and news about their partnership with The Fresh Dolls. At every tour stop, you can purchase a doll of your favorite group member (or all of them), just in time for the holidays! Also for available for purchase was Bedroom Kandi for ladies and BK for men!

Up next was Zonnique, who did her thing along with her dancers and proved that she is staking her claim in the R&B game! You heard the phrase ..”shake what ya mama gave ya”? Well she did that and then some. How cool is that to be on the same tour with her mother,  Tameka ‘Tiny’ Harris!

Adding to the excitement of this reunion tour were special guests, R&B legend Monica and the ever so talented Tamar Braxton. Tamar came out looking beautiful and performed with the energy, realness and powerful vocals that she is known for. She also took time to spill some tea and speak about her impending divorce that is being played on reality television for all to see. With all that is going on in her life she left it all on the stage in last night’s performance and saaaaannng her heart out ! {as seen on my IG instastories}

This group Xscape, along with Monica were two of my favorites in the 90’s. In fact, those classic R&B hits that those female artists sung for us back then still move us fans, old and new, to this day! Monica, graced the stage with her unique style and singing that touches your soul. She talked about her influences like Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige and surprised us with her cover of Lauryn Hill’s ‘Lost One‘, which I shared a teaser on my Snapchat. 

The time had come for all of us to see the anticipated reunion of Xscape for ourselves. Some people in the audience were wondering if it was going to be all the members of the 4 girl group that broke up suddenly after 3 straight platinum albums. Myself and all of their fans who were saddened by their sudden demise at the height of their popularity, could not wait for them to hit the stage and give us what we have been asking for all these years! And then these letters came across the screen and all you could hear were screams and cheers for ..X S C A P E! 

 

Kandi Burruss-Tucker, Tameka “Tiny” Harris and sisters Latocha and Tameka Scott came ready to party and perform all of their memorable hits. They even got their dance on last night! Check ’em out …

LaTocha, Tamika, Kandi and Tiny started off dressed in jumpsuits but changed into church robes as well as sexy attire as the evening went on. You could feel the energy in the arena as thousands of fans sang along with every song. 

Their concert set list featured all the favorites like, Feels So Good, Who Can I Run To, Is My Living In Vain, Just Kickin’ It, and Understanding. One song that I could not wait to hear them sing was “Tonight” because of how it showcases their beautiful harmonies and vocal ranges.

The crowd also enjoyed the video journey of Xscape’s career that played along in two huge jumbotron screens. We all agreed that this reunion was long overdue and how they delivered! Memory lane was in full effect and it was magical. They are hitting up Miami next on Dec.5 and other cities on their 21 city North American tour. The tour wraps up on Sat Jan 6, 2018 in Los Angeles.  So grab your girls, your guy and get tickets to see this fantastic show and get ready to have fun! For more tour info go to https://www.thegreatxscapetour.com

  

See more video clips from the concert here ⤵ 

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

#FoodieFriday Feature | Where to Dine in #Baltimore Inner Harbor PART II @MissShirleys #ShirleysLove

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When seeking a family friendly brunch while in Baltimore, make sure to place Miss Shirley’s Cafe at the top of your list. I was visiting family and friends during Thanksgiving and wanted to enjoy non-traditional Thanksgiving food during Brunch where I could indulge in some regional cuisine featuring my fave: SEAFOOD!

Miss Shirley’s Cafe | SobeSavvy.com shares #ShirleysLove for Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch

During our stay in Baltimore, we dined at two restaurants that not only feature delicious food, but served as the perfect family friendly places to fuel up for holiday shopping. Phillips Seafood (which you can read PART I of my #FoodieFriday here) and Miss Shirley’s Cafe are both Maryland favorites that should be on your Where to Dine in Baltimore list. Here’s what my experience was like at Miss Shirley’s: 

Upon arriving at Miss Shirley’s Inner Harbor location at 750 E.Pratt St. you will see that this place is popular for breakfast, brunch and lunch. The original location in Roland Park was started in 2005 so Miss Shirley’s simply spread their perfection here {and an Annapolis location}.

After being warmly greeted, we were seated at a booth where the hostess handed an old school etch-a-sketch to my 6 yr old. What an awesome throwback for the kiddos to occupy themselves with while waiting for their food! I absolutely loved their kids menu. My little one ordered the silver dollar pancakes and they come served in a cute bento box! We adults occupied ourselves with Mornin’ Cocktails. I recommend the Miss Mimosa & Southern Ruby Crush.

My Mom started with the “Loaded Southern Fried Deviled Eggs” which she LOVED! I ordered their soup of the day, which was a gumbo that was packed with shrimp, sausage and plenty of flavor.

For entrees we feasted our eyes on the Miss Shirley’s House Favorites like “Get your Grits On” which is their take on Shrimp {Or Salmon} and Grits. It features Blackened Shrimp on top of Grits + Fried Green Tomato and tastes as awesome as it sounds and looks! 

Hubby opted for the “Crab Cake & Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict.” Jumbo lump crabmeat with poached eggs & Old Bay hollandaise sauce. He said it tasted EXACTLY like he imagined actually … BETTER!

The “Crab Happy Chesapeake Chicken Sammy” was what my Mom ordered. Here is what’s on it per the menu ..

She thought it was AMAZING and even though it had alot going on, it all surprisingly went well together. This dish definitely fit the Miss Shirley’s motto: Southern Inspired with a Maryland Twist!

Service was very good as well as the entire meal. It was a great way to bond with my family over good food in a locally owned, upscale-casual, yet kid-friendly restaurant.

SobeSavvy Tip: Miss Shirley’s Cafe has a special called “Family Time Tuesdays“. All Miss Shirley’s Cafe locations are offering 50% OFF* Kids Bento Boxes ALL DAY on Tuesdays from November 7th – December 12th, with the purchase of an entrée of $11.99 or more. Make sure to mention this ad to your server while dining, to redeem your discount!

Holiday Promotions

Make sure you make Miss Shirley’s Cafe a favorite of yours and also your company. This holiday season Miss Shirley’s Cafe is offering a special party promotion that’s available for a Limited Time Only! Book your upcoming Holiday Party or Event for a WEEKDAY between Monday, November 27th – Thursday, December 21st & receive a $20 Bonus Card* for every $200 spent during your event!

Missed Cyber Monday?! No worries at Miss Shirley’s, it’s Cyber Monday all season long! Order Miss Shirley’s Cafe gift cards online & receive a $10 Bonus Gift Card* for every $100 in gift cards purchased! *Promotion valid through 1/2/18. See website for restrictions.

Digital E-Gift Cards are also available online throughYiftee.com.

Remember to Follow @MissShirleys #ShirleysLove on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and make plans to dine there soon and taste the award winning breakfast, brunch, lunch dishes for yourself! 

 

#FoodieFriday Feature | Where to Dine in #Baltimore Inner Harbor PART I @PhillipsSeafood #PhillipsSeafood

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Recently my family and I spent Thanksgiving in Baltimore and stayed in the Downtown/Inner Harbor area. We enjoy visiting ‘Charm City’ mainly because there are plenty of things to do and great restaurants where we can enjoy my favorite food: SEAFOOD! During our stay, we dined at two restaurants that not only feature delicious food, but served as the perfect family friendly places to fuel up for holiday shopping. Phillips Seafood and Miss Shirley’s Cafe are both Maryland favorites that should be on your Where to Dine in Baltimore list. Here’s why:

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD

Phillips Seafood Baltimore Inner Harbor | #outandaboutAva is ready for Lunch at Phillips Seafood

Phillips Seafood | Lunch in Baltimore means seafood to my family. And seafood means a visit to the world famous Phillips Seafood Restaurant. Located at the
Inner Harbor, Phillips has been a Baltimore iconic brand for decades. It had been a little while since our last visit so we were excited about trying their seasonal specials.

One Winter special we ordered was an appetizer called “Local Oysters and Crab Claws“. For THE  low price of $5 we received a platter with 4 raw
oysters and a cluster of individual crab claws. Fresh and good are two words to
describe this wallet friendly appetizer that promptly disappeared.

Our waitress Z recommended I try one of their new cocktails on the menu. I was glad that I did because their “Crabby Tea” was both refreshing and a great drink to toast to the holidays with! 

We dived into the main portion of their menu and so many things looked SO
GOOD it was hard to decide on a nice steak or continue with the seafood theme. The good news is my husband chose something that was the best of both worlds. 

For a limited time they have a Surf & Turf special. For only $19.95 they served a 6 oz. broiled lobster tail and a tender 6 oz. filet mignon cooked to order. The lobster and filet were both superb! No sides are included, however my hubby was pleased and glad he ordered it. 

Did you know Phillips has a special kids menu? Our daughter, #outandaboutAva loves their kid sized crabcake slider. It comes with fries and a drink in a fun, keepsake cup. 


A visit to Phillips would not be complete without ordering one of their infamous crabcakes. I ordered the “Ultimate Crab Cake“, described as.. “the
best of the best, made with 100% jumbo lump crab; with crab macaroni &
cheese & asparagus. 

IT WAS BEYOND GOOD!!  Delicious is even an understatement. I wanted to kiss the Chef…not just for the oversized crab cake but also the scrumptious Crab Mac & cheese.

  

Saving room for dessert is a must when dining at Phillips because they have a variety of choices that will satisfy your sweet tooth and your soul! Take a peek at this menu and the spread:

Taste a bit of history and order the ‘Smith Island Cake‘ -an 8 to 11 # layer cake with fudge frosting, a Maryland recipe you must devour! In 2008, it became the official dessert of the State of Maryland and available at Phillips Seafood Restaurant. 

SobeSavvy Tip : Be sure to visit phillipsfoods.com to stay informed with recipes, promotions, specials and more. Dont’t forget the holidays are upon us and the best gift for a foodie would be a gift card from Phillips Seafood! 

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD



601 E Pratt St
Baltimore, MD 21202


Travel | Top 3 Reasons to Stay at #HyattPlace Hotel in @BaltimoreMD #InnerHarbor #HarborEast 

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The holidays are the perfect time to getaway and visit your relatives & friends and just gather together to give thanks. Me and my #HeighPartyof3 went back to our hometown Baltimore for Thanksgiving weekend and wanted a hotel that would be convenient to shopping, great restaurants and things to do for the three of us. We chose the Hyatt Place Baltimore/Inner Harbor because we had such a great experience our last visit, we hoped that it would be a comfortable stay again…and it truly was!

Located in the eastern section of the harbor near Fells Point, this property has everything a visitor to Baltimore would ever need. Super comfortable stylish room and modern and airy public spaces. They have 24/7 dining on site, a great workout room with state of the art equipment and a heated indoor pool.

Hyatt Place Baltimore/Inner Harbor has an incredible staff who were very welcoming upon check-in. Micah, a Front Desk rep, had local knowledge which was well appreciated since we left Baltimore in the late 90’s and so much had changed {for the better}. In their modernly designed lobby is where you can read a newspaper, collect pamplets of things to do (like holiday shopping at the Christmas Village in Baltimore), plan your day via a touch screen Concierge Center and print out any necessary info via the Business Center. Oh and while you are sitting in one of the comfy lounge chairs, don’t forget to grab a green apple. Yes, they are real and fresh I might add!

Our King bed suite was spacious with a beautiful L shaped sofa that converted into a bed for our little one. The room we had was shower only so keep that in mind. Also there were shampoo and conditioner provided but lotion was not. So be prepared to bring your own bath products or shop nearby CVS, Whole Foods or Lush stores which are within walking distance from the hotel. In fact all the magic of Harbor East is just a mere 2 blocks away. 

If you asked me my Top 3 Reasons to Stay at Hyatt Place in Baltimore with my family it would be : 1. Comfort 2. Convenience and 3. Complimentary Breakfast! We really enjoyed this hotel’s ever changing breakfast choices. Gourmet touches on traditional fare were a refreshing change from most hotels ho hum breakfast choices. Bananas foster on oatmeal? Avocado salsa on eggs? Yes, this is what breakfast possibilities look like at the Hyatt Place.

You can also satisfy any late night hunger or sweet tooth with their 24/7 dining options. Hot soup or salads can be had at 3AM! Also calling my name were some incredible cupcake selections in their glass display case. But we opted out of trying those because we had plenty of foodie adventures during our stay, along with a Thanksgiving Feast to enjoy. Stop back tomorrow in the blog for my #FoodieFriday series and read about the restaurants we checked out during our visit which were conveniently close to our hotel. Dining options on site include: Nando’s Peri Peri, Jimmy Johns and Cava Mezze.

If you have upcoming plans to travel to Baltimore for business or pleasure, with family or alone…make Hyatt Place Baltimore /Inner Harbor YOUR ‘where to stay’ on your next trip to Charm City. 

HYATT PLACE Baltimore/Inner Harbor

511 S Central Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21202

Brunching & Celebrating #NationalFrenchToastDay @BrioItalian #MyBrio

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Disclosure: I had the opportunity to try Brio’s Brunch menu in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Brio Tuscan Grille | Berries & Cream French Toast, SobeSavvy.com

November 28th is National French Toast Day! A day to celebrate a breakfast and brunch dish that is a favorite in my family. Recently, I learned that Brio Tuscan Grille has an amazing brunch which features french toast, so I made plans to get a jump on celebrating National French Toast early this past Sunday.
THE MENU

Brio Tuscan Grille | Brunch Menu

Brio Tuscan Grill has savory and sweet dishes on their Brunch Menu to satisfy the whole family. The restaurant has done a great job at elevating brunch classics and giving it their own twist. For example, their Berries & Cream French Toast is stuffed with cream cheese and made with love. Seriously, the Chef admitted he loved this dish and would eat it daily if he could! You get six slices and its served with bacon, and warm syrup to top off this brunch masterpiece. Flavorful, creamy and delish. Everyone at the table loved it!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Berries & Cream French Toast

I am a Shrimp & Grits fan so my expectations were high when I order their version of this famous southern dish. Black pepper shrimp, creamy smoked Gouda polenta, poached cage-free egg and ciabatta. The shrimp were cooked perfect and the Gouda polenta were MIND BLOWIN’ good. I enjoyed breaking open the egg and using the bread to sop up all that goodness on a plate!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Shrimp & Grits

We also tried their Sicilian Omelette. An oversized omelette filled with ham, bacon, sausage, caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes, mozzarella and brunch potatoes on the side. I appreciated how the potatoes were cooked just perfectly and had the right amount of cajun spices dusted lightly on them. This was very flavorful and extremely filling!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Sicillian Omelette

Brunch is not complete without boozy cocktails to toast to the weekend right? Brio Tuscan Grille has Brunch Beverages on their menu to choose from. I recommend their Italian Mule served in a traditional copper mug, White Peach Sangria if you enjoy a fruity,sweet cocktail or a classic Mimosa.

Brio Tuscan Grille | Brunch Beverages

Dessert is not to be missed! You won’t have room but make room or do like I did and take it to go. The White Chocolate Berry Bread Pudding is everything I desire in a dessert..warm,creamy and has a sauce that goes with it. It was housemade, fresh and so delicious!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Dessert Anyone?

Brio also offers a Kids Menu, which our 6 year old ordered from and enjoyed the pasta. While our daughter waited for her meal, she enjoyed playing with dough given to her by our server, Doug (who provided great customer service and made our family dining experience enjoyable).

Brio Tuscan Grille | Play ‘Dough’ at Brio !

SobeSavvy Tip: Now thru 12/31/17 Recieve a $25 Bonus Card when you purchase $100 in Brio Gift Cards. Free shipping on all gift cards thru Fri Dec. 1st! Show your favorite foodie some love this holiday season! For more info, go to brioitalian.com Also follow Brio on Twitter (@brioitalian) and Facebook (facebook.com/brioitalian)

Brio Tuscan Grille | Holiday Gift Idea~ Brio Gift Cards

Although National French Toast Day is today, Brio Tuscan Grill only offers Brunch on Sat & Sun, so go this weekend and remember to try an order of their Berries & Cream French Toast or any of their amazing brunch dishes!

Brio Tuscan Grille

4325 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27612

*BRUNCH: Saturday/Sunday 11am-3pm

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 !