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@Jeezy ‘s Trap or Die 3 Tour was 🔥Recap @RitzRaleigh #TD3 #SnowSeason #TD3Tour #Raleigh ⛄

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Ever been to a show that was cold and lit “at the same damn time”?! Well that’s how it was here in Raleigh, NC  at the Trap or Die 3 Tour when Jeezy AKA The Snowman came to perform at The Ritz ! The sold out concert was filled with fans who came to see a living legend in the rap game. Young Jeezy is one of the pioneers who created and popularized the Hip Hop subgenre called “trap music”. He hails from Atlanta and took time to rep for the “404” during his extended set. The crowd came to bounce, scream and have a good time. The venue was packed wall to wall.
Opening up for Jeezy was Raleigh’s own Ace Henderson, followed by Lil Durk who did a great job in getting the crowd hype for the Snowman. If you hurry, you can check out more of the concert on RitzRaleigh’s Snapchat.

If you are thinking about seeing Jeezy in concert, let me assure you it was a pretty good show. In fact, it was Trap or Die! Everyone had a good time rapping along to his extensive song list.Hits like: That Trap or Die 3! Going Crazy, Bout That, Old joints! That 103. Young Jeezy bought all of Raleigh & Durham’s Atlanta hip-hop  fans out ! Standing room only! As my friend Sam the Man would say “It was flavor for real”! 

Don’t miss the chance to experience your favorite Jeezy “Trap” tracks performed at a venue near you!

TRAP OR DIE 3 TOUR DATES

Mar. 1 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
Mar. 3 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
Mar. 4 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
Mar. 7 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
Mar. 8 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome
Mar. 9 – Philadelphia, PA – The Filmore Philadelphia
Mar. 11 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Mar. 12 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Mar. 16 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz🔥🔥
Mar. 17 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
Mar. 18 – Greensboro, NC – Cone Denim Ent Center
Mar. 22 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Mar. 26 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Mar. 27 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Mar. 28 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
Apr. 4 – Riverside, CA – RMA
Apr. 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater
Apr. 6 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues

Looking for Family-Friendly eats in @TownofCary ?Head to Brixx Wood Fired Pizza @BrixxParkside #Yum

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My husband’s first job as a teenager was at a pizza joint, so he is a pizza snob. He makes our pizza at home and is very particular about his pie. Because of him, my family LOVES PIZZA!  Always have. A few years back while visiting Rome, he needless to say, was in utopia.Many of those awesome pizza spots had one thing in common. Their pizza was baked in a brick oven. I did a little research as to why pizza in brick ovens just seemed “better” than pizza cooked in a traditional oven and here is the TMI answer :

Because of the high heat stored in the dense walls, the brick oven is designed to cook pizza very quickly. It takes approximately 2-3 minutes maximum for the pizza to cook.

Better crust – At such high temperatures, the radiant heat from the fire and the heat bouncing off the inside walls of the oven crisps the outside of the pizza very quickly. Any moisture in the dough is thus sealed off. This prevents the base of the dough from becoming soggy and results in a flavorful crust that’s puffy, yet soft and chewy.

Unique flavor – Only a wood-fired brick oven pizza imparts that unique smoky flavor that cannot be reproduced in a normal kitchen oven. The high temperature produces other flavors not achieved by slow cooking.

That being said, SobeSavvy was delighted to be hosted by BRIXX Wood Fired Pizza at Parkside Town Center this past weekend. With over 30 locations in 11 states, Brixx prides itself on being unique. Did you know they had 5 locations in the Triangle, 1 in Chapel Hill, 2 in Raleigh and two locations in Cary – in Parkside Town Commons and in Bradford Shops? We are lucky to have that many options nearby!

Much more than just a pizza and beer kinda place. The dining room was bright and colorful. They even have mini chalkboards for kids and kids at heart to be artists while sitting at the table !

At the bar, you’ll find they have over 24 craft beers on tap and 14 wines by the glass.

The foundation of its menu – traditional and whole wheat dough, focaccia bread, fresh mozzarella from Wisconsin cheese curd, meatballs, hummus, bruschetta and more – from scratch every morning and it shows or rather tastes ! We started with delicious tomato soup and a order of bruschetta . The focaccia toast was fresh and the balsamic glaze was divine over the roma and sun dried tomatoes!

I ordered the Chicken Florentine pizza and the wife ordered a Mediterranean Salad with grilled salmon on top. The salad was fresh and flavorful while my pizza was great!

My little one ordered penne pasta w/meatballs. She gave the thumbs up the way only a 5 yr old can! Service was superb and we even had root beer float to close out our first Brixx experience .

Brixx is dedicated to supporting the local environment as well, recycling everything possible and offering mostly draft beers to eliminate landfill waste.
We enjoyed our visit and look forward to trying some of their pasta dishes and sandwiches when we return.

SobeSavvy Tip: Take advantage of their #LateNightBOGO specials. Brixx has some of the best daily specials in Cary, including all bottles of wine half-priced Sundays and $2.50 craft drafts Mondays. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – serving guests for lunch, dinner and late night eats. When other restaurants are cooling down, Brixx is heating up!

Although not at this location, Brixx at Bradford Shops offers a special lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday – enjoy a smaller version of any housemade pizza and a half salad, quality food delivered to your table in about 10 minutes from ordering. So whether for lunch or dinner, Brixx is there to satisfy your family’s Italian cravings !

Learn more at http://www.brixxpizza.com. Be sure to Follow on Facebook for the Cary locations @Brixx Pizza – Parkside Town Commons and @Brixx Pizza – Bradford.

My Family Visit to @ncartmuseum in Black & White ~ an ode to the must see ANSEL ADAMS exhibition

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Ansel Adams is one of my favorite artist and America’s most renowned photographers. His black and white photographs reveal the importance Adams placed on the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the natural world. When I heard that his Masterworks were on display thru May 7, 2017 at NCMA/North Carolina Museum of Art, I knew I wanted to plan a day for my family (fondly referred to as #HeighPartyof3) to visit Raleigh’s beloved art museum. All hands in, let’s get ready to explore!

I have been to the NCMA before to catch a special theater performance presented by Theatre Raleigh , but have never been during the day or with my husband and daughter. We moved here in 2015 and still are discovering places we love to go to as a family. This art museum along with its park is now one of our favorite places. Admission is always free (there is a charge for programs and special exhibitions), there are Weekend Family-Friendly tours and Free Public Tours, a restaurant on the premise, and an amazing museum park ! Before you even step inside of the buildings, there is art and the beauty of nature to behold.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is the crown jewel of the Southeast U.S. art world .It is comprised of two buildings, East and West and a Museum Park. This complex has an impressive collection of art and artifacts comparable to other first tier museums. Be sure to ask for special kids art exercisize booklets that the little ones can use while touring the museum. From ancient Egyptian artifacts to Monet watercolor paintings to Rodin sculptures, this museum is world class. We started in the WEST BUILDING ,which is home of NCMA’s permanent collection, it houses Iris Restaurant  and Iris Sip, the Museum store and the Southeast’s largest collection of sculpture by Auguste Rodin in the Rodin Court and Garden. As impressive as their permanent collections are, their special exhibits are just as amazing.

*Savvy Tip: if you are seeing the museum with your child/children ages 2-5, be sure to pick up a What’s in the Box? Activity Cards. We had fun exploring art through themes provided on the cards.

We needed a food break and lucky for us we scored a coveted reservation at the renowned Iris restaurant inside of the West Building. Most museum restaurants are known for high quality food and Iris did not disappoint. Their brunch menu was available and we took advantage of it. Uur 5 yr old enjoyed their all the fixins waffle. While I had their chicken salad and hubby ate the Huevos Rancheros. All inventive and filling without being too heavy.The airy atmosphere and all of the smartly dressed guests made it a pleasant lunch to remember.

*Here is where I take my break from getting my Ansel Adams black and white photography on to show you their delicious food in color! *

After Brunch, we headed over to the EAST BUILDING , which is where the exhibitions are, the North Carolina Gallery, the seasonal film series is held, contemporary galleries, the Art Reference Library, and the Membership and Box Office is located. Here is where we picked up our tickets for our time slot to see Ansel Adams Masterworks. No photography is allowed in the gallery and they do have family friendly guided tour times. 

As one of the most famous American photographers, Ansel Adams captured the natural wonders of the American west like no other. This exhibit had a plethora of original Adam prints taken over the course of his 5 decades behind the lens. The framed black and whites are placed at even eye level with the perfect overhead lighting. It was crowded but you could still freely gawk and ponder at all of his wonderful work.

I hope my family’s visit to the North Carolina Museum of Art (and my personal black and white photo tribute to Ansel Adams) has inspired you to plan to go with your family. There is something for all ages to enjoy! Follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ncartmuseum or Check out ncartmuseum.org for tickets and more information !

North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road  

Raleigh, NC 27607

919-839-NCMA     ncartmuseum.org

#FoodieFriday Spotlight | The Table on Elm | Best CoffeeShop Eatery & Bakery in Downtown Greensboro

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If you read my ‘Travel Tuesday’ blog post on Greensboro, NC , then you know my family I enjoyed our weekend in the Gate City. I shared where we played, where we stayed and wanted to give you a more in depth review of The Table on Elm as a ‘Where to Eat’ place when visiting Greensboro!

This little charming to go bakery/bistro/coffee shop has become a very popular place for all things fresh. The original eat in restaurant location is in Asheboro so some locals were already just waiting for this outpost to open. Their baked items are now iconic. Very fresh and their selections sometimes vary to keep things interesting. They also have ready to go salads and sandwiches. My daughter wanted a picnic so we stocked up on a salad, some soup, iced coffees and pastries and off we went. The service here was refreshingly genuine and competent. The ladies out front gave some great suggestions and I think we took them up on all of them. Their extensive coffee offerings have something for everyone. They also use fresh local dairies for their milk and make their own in house syrups. Some of which are for sale in the store. Local and fresh are the two words used here a lot and it shows.

So the next time you are in Downtown Greensboro and looking for a place to have a couple of espresso drinks, enjoy some dessert or baked goods or want to grab some sandwiches, salads or soup to go…..then tucked away in a lovely alleyway, adorned with murals and botanical wrought iron gates, lies a hidden gem that every Foodie should visit, The Table on Elm.

#TravelTuesday Feature ~ #FamilyTravel Fun Itinerary for Greensboro, NC #VisitGSO

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With a great selection of 135 attractions, Greensboro has been on my family’s radar to visit ever since we moved to Raleigh, NC almost 2 years ago. That’s why when I learned the Triad Women’s Blogger Network was holding their first meetup of the year in The Gate City, I took the opportunity to reach out to VisitGreensboroNC.com, who guided us in where to stay, eat, play while there. Here is a look at my family’s, aka #HeighPartyof3, itinerary during our weekend visit. 

FRIDAY

We checked into the Home2Suites by Hilton Greensboro Airport . 

This extended stay property is located near the airport, so for those flying into and out of Greensboro this is a great location. They have a nice gym and a indoor pool. Breakfast is included so you have fuel to start your day of exploring Greensboro !

SATURDAY

I attended the meeting with Triad Women Bloggers Network, while my husband and daughter checked out The Greensboro Children’s Museum.What is the Triad Women Bloggers Network? It is a group, founded by Ashley Carter of http://www.fabellis.com, of women bloggers in the Triad North Carolina area who connect, build, empower and encourage each other. The meetup was held at Urban Grinders which is part coffee shop, part art gallery, 100% cool. It was the perfect place to hold the event, which included an amazing Blogger panel, swag bag for each attendee and great networking. Check out photos from the meetup here.

Photo Credit:Triad Women Bloggers Network

According to my daughter, aka #outandaboutAva, I missed all the fun at The Greensboro Children’s Museum.

Having a 5 yr old means that you first realized that there are actual museums devoted to just children, What a concept !!

Having visited other kids museum, this one turned to be pretty unique. Besides the usual pretend Post office and Dentist office , this museum has an extensive outdoors area dedicated to agriculture, vegetation and even a tractor and a hen house. Science and hands on arts and crafts made this museum a fun and a learning experience. Centrally located downtown , this is a can’t miss for families with the under 10 set.

We met up for lunch at The Table on Elm, located in Downtown Greensboro . I will be sharing an in depth review of this restaurant as my #FoodieFriday feature this week, so stay tuned! I will say that this place is a must try and I am still dreaming of their desserts. It’s the perfect grab and go eatery to get lunch, and walk to one of the 2 nearby parks.

LeBauer Park and Center City Park are both adjacent to each other

City Center Park is a stylish park with beautiful walkways sprinkled with public art pieces that sometimes are actually benches ! They have an attractive amphitheater where free concerts and events are held all summer long.

Lebauer Park is a new urban park/playground area we had heard so many positive things about. It takes up a few acres of prime real estate downtown so it did not disappoint. What makes this place great is the plethora of activities that can be had at one time in a clean and modern park setting. Ping Pong tables, badminton, miniature golf..ALL of the equipment right there for the public to use at their leisure. I have not seen anything like this here in the states before. Other places would charge for these facility perks but here it all for free. They have a lot of tables on the perimeters where coupes and families were enjoying their lunches whilst their kids romped around. It was very pleasant and even though there was a crowd there on a Saturday afternoon, it never felt crowded. A must see for any visitor to the Gate City of Greensboro.

#soTravelSavvy tip: Get off the beaten path when visiting a new city. You never know what you may find. We saw so many beautiful murals while doing so!

SUNDAY
No Family Travel to Greensboro would be complete without a visit to the Greensboro Science Center.

This attraction has a trifecta of activities. The aquarium, Science museum and the outdoor zoo. We spent the entire morning here looking at snakes and sharks and tigers ! The layout is logically set up so guests meander throughout the indoor sections that eventually lead them to the outdoor zoo and Skywild zipline/elevated walkway attraction. We so enjoyed every part of this complex. The interactive science experiments were so much fun. The zoo had Gibbons and of course that big Bengal Tiger.The petting zoo was an awesome part also that my little one enjoyed. The whole complex is just a wonderful concept.Here is a video roundup of our day at the Greensboro Science Center. Enjoy!

#soNCsavvy Tip: Don’t leave Greensboro without learning more about the role this NC city played in the Civils Right Movement, Black History and American History.

Although it was our first visit to Greensboro , it won’t be our last as it is a quick road trip away. Tell me, have you been to the Gate City of Greensboro and explored all they have to offer ? If not, what are you waiting for?! If so, share your experience below….as seen here at The Greensboro Science Center, we’re all ears! 

#TastyTuesday Spotlight on @BoneFishGrill delicious #SundayBrunch @VisitNorthHills 

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Bonefish Grill https://www.bonefishgrill.com/ has been a mainstay of mine over the years. I used to live on the road almost 200 days a year. If I was working/living in a city then as long as they had a Bonefish Grill, I would be okay !!

The only thing Bonefish Grill was missing was my favorite meal of the week. Brunch. Spending the past 18 years living in Miami Beach, FL { the defacto king city of brunches} I became a expert at this meal. This past Sunday, my family and I headed to the always chic area of Raleigh called North Hills to do brunch the Bonefish Grill way. https://www.bonefishgrill.com/brunch-menu/brunch-favorites

Brunch without mimosas is just a sad breakfast! I am happy to report their mimosas/bellinis are just $5. What a great price for the crown jewel of brunch libations. They also have specialty drinks for a nominal price. I had the mimosa and hubby tried their blackberry sangria. It was out of this world. So we were well hydrated so food was up next.

 

Besides their inventive fresh seafood menu, Bonefish Grill also has stellar service. Our waitress was informative, cheery and efficient. Good service means I will return. Bad service means no matter how good the food is, I will be a one time guest.

They had a myriad of sweet and savory options on their menu. For some reason hubby and I both were in a eggy mood ! I ordered their crab omelette. It came with asparagus and a generous amount of REAL LUMP crab meat on top. Being from Maryland, I take my crabs serious so needless to say, my omelette vanished promptly !

Hubby ordered their twist on the crab benedict. They took traditional crab benedict and instead of ham/canadian bacon they used their uber popular Bang Bang Shrimp and put on an egg benedict ! Yes, it was as good as it sounds. Their hollandaise sauce had a little kick to it and it worked perfectly. I should thought of that !!

To sum it all up, Bonefish Grill is now in the Brunch game. The only question is are you coming to play ? You should.

Old School Hip Hop & RnB lives! Thanks to “Back 2 the 80s’ Tour ~#Raleigh Recap @decRaleigh

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Yo Baby, Yo Baby, Yo!!!! Old School ruled and packed the house last night, Saturday February 4, 2017 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium for the Back 2 the 80’s Tour ! 

Fans came out ‘funky fresh dressed to impress ready to party’ to see this show featuring Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, Al B Sure, Cherrelle, Hi Five and Chubb Rock! 

The music was great, the vibe was nothing but a Generation X party y’all and I would definitely recommend seeing this show if you love old school REAL Hip Hop and RnB.

Cherrelle opened the show. She became legendary with a myriad of solo hots and also with Alexander O’Neal. Father time has done nothing to slow her beauty or vocal chords.

Followed by Chub RockChubb had great interaction w/the audience as he hosted an old school hit after hit review !

Hi-Five sang a melody of their greatest hits including “The Kissing Game”, They also paid homage to New Edition, with “Can You Stand The Rain” .

Here is a short clip of Al.B.Sure working his way thru a crowd of lady fans singing RnB classic “Secret Garden”. It was an uplifting experience for one lucky fan!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQHQr4_D4MY/


Whodini: The trio of Jalil Hutchins, John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, and Drew “Grandmaster Dee” Carter filled the early ’80s with memorable jams such as “Magic Wand” and “The Freaks Come Out at Night,” which they performed while escaping from straitjackets underwater.  They were in all their glory onstage with their infamous wide brimmed hats and all.

Big Daddy Kane: The Grammy-winning rapper and former member of the Juice Crew’s mix of rapid-fire rhymes and swagger inspired generations of MCs, including former hype man Jay-Z.Big Daddy has not lost once ounce of his iconic swag. He is still the ultimate “smooth operator”. He took the crowd through a playlist of his biggest hits culminating with his number one smash “Ain’t no Half Steppin”

Slick Rick: Allmusic dubbed the Grammy-nominated rapper “hip-hop’s greatest storyteller” for reasons that become obvious when listening to hits such as “La Di Da Di” and “Children’s Story”. This UK import has a unique way of weaving a tale while keeping a rhythm all of his own. It took me back to middle school and just had me smiling from ear to ear.

Doug E. Fresh was as always was the MC extraordinaire. He kept the crowd grooving with his unique blend of rap, beat box.He is literally a walking encyclopedia of hip hop. One of the originators of the genre. His icon status was on full display as the crowd went wild during his set !!

Look out for the Back 2 the 80s Tour coming to a city near you ! Check your local listings and Ticketmaster to buy tickets here ! 

#FoodieFriday Spotlight on #CLTFood | Where to Eat & More #Charlotte #CLT #charlottesgotalot 

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Note: This post was sponsored in part by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. All opinions and photos are my own.

To celebrate the end of 2016, my family and I went on a road trip down to Charlotte, NC. Besides all the great cultural and sports attractions that North Carolina’s biggest city encompasses, I was there for a more basic reason: to eat !  Charlotte has quite the cuisine scene and this foodie was focused on eating like a Queen in the Queen City! 

American Girl Dining SouthPark Mall

First, I made plans to have lunch with my little princess and her favorite doll at the bistro inside the American Girl Store at SouthPark Mall. It was quite a unique experience, which you can read my full review here. Not only was it a fun time, but the kid friendly menu had tasty options for us adults too. A reservation is definitely necessary as this place is popular. Be sure to end your meal on a sweet note and order dessert. They’ll even bring a cupcake out for your child to decorate for their doll to enjoy!

Dinner at Sea Level NC  

Since it was NYE, an early dinner in Uptown was the perfect choice. I love fresh seafood and Sea Level NC delivered just that! Service was friendly and professional. Never underestimate how important southern hospitality is to a restaurant experience.Their decor is modern and understated stylish. Lots of exposed brick and wood. 

They have a incredible farm to fork raw oyster menu sourced from North Carolina and all over the country. It changes constantly depending on the season and what’s available. All fresh and delectable. 

Ooh baby I like it raw..in my ODB voice..lol, but if you dont’t and prefer something steamed, try the mussels. Plump and tasty. Mussel rule #108 don’t forget to use the bread for sopping up the mussel broth made with white wine and garlic butter !

Wash them down with a beer or glass of wine from their extensive drink menu or a  order craft cocktail called Melting NY Sour. It was what my husband called a “man’s drink”.

Their daily seafood catches and delicious dishes, like their classic Lobster roll make this restaurant a must try for visitors and locals. Huge hunks of lobster on greens and a remoulade sauce on a lightly toasted bread was fantastic. They let the lobster just be lobster. Why mess with perfection?!

Midwood Smokehouse Ballantyne

Midwood Smokehouse has quickly become a BBQ institution in Charlotte. We had the pleasure of dining at their Ballyntyne location in Charlotte on New Years Day for dinner. North Carolina and Charlotte in general have a lot of BBQ restauarants, but when restaurateur Frank Scibelli toured barbeque joints in Texas, he picked up invaluable tips.For starters, they burn hickory logs 24 hours a day to smoke their meats in a one of a kind ,old school manual commercial smoker. The general manager was kind enough to give me a tour of the kitchen where all the magic happens. Someone has to feed the smoker constantly to keep the fire going and maintain a even temperature in the smoker at all times. That takes a lot of work . More art than science and it shows in their food.We started with some smoked wings. Dry on the outside but moist and flavorful inside. 

I had a new years special that is not normally on their menu. Pork shoulder, collard greens, black eyed peas and jalapeno cornbread. This is traditional meal to be eaten for good luck to start 2017. They should start a tradition and keep this entree on the menu! It’s was that good.

One side dish you can always find on the menu is the mac and cheese. I do not know what cheeses were used but there was plenty of it throughout ! I have no doubt this was made with love.

Service was prompt, informative and friendly. The manager demanded we try some brisket before we departed , so we managed to try a few bites. WOW ! tender, tasty and perfect mix of lean and fat.Midwood is now our “GO TO ” spot when we are in Charlotte and craving REAL BBQ . Take it from their mascot, the Notorious P.I.G ..they smoke the good stuff!

After a great dinner, we headed back to our hotel at Homewood Suites by Hilton in Ballantyne. It is conveniently close (within walking distance) to the restaurant and a great choice of lodging when staying in Charlotte. Check out my video to see why : https://youtu.be/YqoCw2QHhuk

Holidays on Ice at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza

Although it rained most of our visit, on our last day, I got to work off some of that good eating by ice skating. Located outside the
Nascar Hall Of Fame, Charlotte’s outdoor ice rink is perfect for families, date nights or fun outings with friends. 

None of us had ever been ice skating before so this was an exciting family first! Skates on.Stand up. Let’s skate. If it was only that easy !! Luckily a few kind teenagers helped us onto the ice. We all held on to the bannister and laughed alot. Holiday on Ice is definitely a holiday tradition that both skaters and non-skaters can enjoy. Afterwards, we celebrated by having our picture taken with the giant polar bear and next to a NASCAR sign of course!

Thank you to our friends at Homewood Suites by Hilton Charlotte Ballantyne, American Girl brand and a very special thanks to the CRVA for the warm welcome to Charlotte! We made great memories, discovered amazing places to dine, learned that the Queen City is a haven for foodies and that Charlotte’s got a lot.

‘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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