Top 4 Reasons Why @Kankirestaurant in #Durham #NC is the “Best Tasting Show In Town” #kankirestaurant #SobeSavvyEats

Hey guys! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. Mine was filled with foodie fun because I had an exciting opportunity to try a restaurant and share about my experience with you! SobeSavvy.com recently was invited to a tasting experience at Kanki Sushi and Japanese Steakhouse Durham, which just happened to coincide with my mom’s visit to the Triangle to celebrate her 64th birthday. I decided to combine some work with pleasure and treat the whole family!

From the moment we stepped inside of Kanki Durham, I could tell by the crowd that this was a popular place. They do not take reservations or hold seats, so make sure your whole party is there if requesting to sit at a hibachi table for dinner. If you’re not familiar with hibachi,it’s where the chef prepares your meal right before your eyes. After dining at Kanki Durham on Saturday, I liked to share with you my Top 4 Reasons Why Kanki Durham is The “Best Tasting Show in Town”:

1. Cozy & Beautiful Decor

If you’ve ever been to Kanki at Crabtree and Kanki off of Wake Forest Road, then you are familiar with the delicious menu. This location offers same menu but has a different feel than the other locations. From the beautiful stain glass decor, the aquarium, the lovely bar area and their cozy dining room, this restaurant is the perfect spot for dinner and a show.

2. Entertaining & Fun

#outandaboutAva is amazed by the hibachi Chef at Kanki Durham, the “Best Tasting Show in Town” | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

Our hibachi chef, Ricky was entertaining and showed special attention to my 6 yr old. She loved the food “show”. Chef Ricky did a myriad of delightful tricks that kept a smile on her face. She loved the “egg roll” the best! Watch this video to see a bit more of the action. It was so fun and entertaining to everyone young and old!

3. Flavorful & Fresh

If you like Japanese cuisine that’s flavorful and fresh, Kanki Durham‘s menu offers a great variety. The delicious menu is full of fresh sushi options, yummy appetizers and of course their well-known hibachi. Hibachi is what we wanted and hibachi is what we got. We started with a few appetizers of Gyoza pork steamed dumplings and also their lamb chops, which I plan to get everytime I visit. The lamb chops were so good they disappeared quickly before I could get a food pic! However, check out the Gyoza appetizer which comes 6 to an order and is perfect for sharing!

SobeSavvy Tip: Dine at Kanki Durham and enjoy a FREE appetizer per party with the purchase of an entree! Use coupon code: SOBESAVVY .Offer expires May 14, 2018

In addition to hibachi, Kanki Durham also has superb sushi choices. I ordered the sashimi sampler. It was fresh and delicious. My family ordered a classic chicken and steak, Ribeye and scallop and a Emperor‘s delight. Most hibachi entrees come with soup, salad and grilled shrimp prior to the main meal. Also there are a choice of two sauces to enjoy with your dishes. You’ll want to put the WHITE SAUCE on everything by the time you leave Kanki Durham! They have a great kids menu as well.

4. Family Friendly

When planning a family dinner, there are very few places as memorable as Kanki Durham. If you are looking for place to handle a big party, Kanki’s hibachi tables seat 9 people. We were a party of 5 so it was a communal affair with our other friendly table guests who were also celebrating a birthday! Our waitress made sure to ask if anyone was celebrating a special occassion. At the end of the meal, a traditional Japanese drummer appeared. He banged out their version of happy birthday to my mom’s delight. They gave her a sherbet with a candle. A sweet ending to a memorable night!

Thank you Kanki Durham for the invite and gift card for dinner for 2 to use towards my meal. In my opinion, your motto of being the “Best Tasting Show in Town” fits this restaurant well! The next time you are in Durham, make sure you dine here. Per my mom, it was “the best meal she has had all year”!

HAVE YOU EVER DINED AT KANKI BEFORE OR ANY OTHER HIBACHI STYLE RESTAURANT? HOW DID YOU ENJOY YOUR EXPERIENCE? SHARE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW⤵

Kanki Durham
3504 Mt. Moriah Road

Facebook: @KankiOfficialPage

Instagram/Twitter: @kankirestaurant

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

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

Hey #Raleigh, Start Your Morning Off Right @TheMorningTimes ! ☕ #Coffee + #Food + #Vibe in #DTR

Ever try finding a spot with good food and good coffee prior to going to work? As simple as this sounds it’s not always that easy! Well have I got some good news for you. There is a restaurant/café/coffee shop located in the heart of downtown Raleigh called The Morning Times.

The Morning Times Menus..yes, they are kid-friendly!

This coffee shop has been a Raleigh mainstay since 2006 and are a favorite amongst the downtown crowds. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, this eclectic coffee eatery offers freshly made baked goods of all sorts and they also have some awesome vegan options. You order downstairs when you come in and you can have it upstairs in their loft like space with tables and comfy chairs or you can have take out if time does not allow. Since I sometimes co-work this is also a good spot for coffee and your laptop.

The Morning Times is a bi-level coffee shop. There are a few tables downstairs, but upstairs has more seating and a loft vibe.

I was there along with my family recently for NCMA’s pop-up for upcoming Art in Bloom festival. Customers received a free flower outside of The Morning Times, which gets great foot traffic in the morning.

FOOD

We decided to try their breakfast features of the day (a tomato and arugula omelette and $5.00 honey chicken biscuit) along with an order of their delicious French Toast from their regular menu. I really liked their unique way of making this breakfast classic with challah bread, mixed berries, whipped cream, maple syrup, topped with almonds. My daughter said it was hashtag #YUM!

COFFEE

A busy barista making a fresh cup of coffee at The Morning Times

The staff was friendly and quickly kept the line moving at The Morning Times. They have quite a selection of coffee from Counter Culture, which is a favorite in our household. We settled on a Vanilla Latte and also an authentic Macchiato {hint, it is not what most THINK it is} as a start to our day. If coffee is not your morning beverage of choice, “power up” with their freshly squeezed orange juice.

SobeSavvy Tip: Sign up for their “Eats Club”👉 HERE … and per their website: “Be among the first to know about special promotions such as beer dinners and cask nights at The Raleigh Times, Lebanese festivals at Sitti, blues & barbeque events at The Pit, Italian Feasts at Gravy and other good stuff in the works for our community of customers.”

Also, The Morning Times knows that it’s morning customers are limited on time so they have made it easy for you to order ahead⤵ Check it out!

Next time you find yourself in the Downtown Raleigh area, and looking for a place to grab your coffee & pastry to go or pull up a window seat to dine, head to The Morning Times!

THE MORNING TIMES

10 E Hargett St.

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Hey #Raleigh Families, this March see Little Shop of Horrors +Beanstalk! The Musical @RLT1936 #Theatre #Fun

This weekend, you have two last chances to check out a favorite MUSICAL COMEDY of mine, Little Shop of Horrors! Raleigh Little Theatre extended its run thru March 4, 2018 with more performances playing at the Canton V. Sutton Theatre. I look forward to seeing the final performance as a “Sunday Funday” activity with my family.

I remember watching the remake of the original movie in 1986. I was 13 years old and seeing Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold as part of a Black female singing trio who brought the drama and comedy to life was a memorable moment in this musical comedy. I know all the lyrics, so I definitely will have fun seeing these 3 singers on stage.

If you are not a superfan like me, here is a brief synopsis of the story:

The meek floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn, stumbles across a new breed of plant that he names “Audrey II” after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn, as long as he keeps feeding it BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent toward global domination!

Little Shop of Horrors is part of the RLT Sutton Series. Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Based on the film by Roger Corman and screenplay by Charles Griffith. Directed by Patrick Torres. The show is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Audrey II is sponsored by Bloom Works.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available now! Buy them online or from the box office at 919-821-3111. Group sales will also be available from the box office. Seating is Reserved Seating. Final Weekend Ticket prices (including taxes):

Adults: $29 Students/Seniors: $25

Seniors are age 62 and up. Students are through college.

************************************

Get your tickets now for an upcoming family friendly production, Beanstalk! the Musical!, opening March 16. It is the first production to open in the newly renovated Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre. The production puts a unique spin on the classic fairy tale. For more information go to Raleigh Little Theatre‘s website: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/

SobeSavvy Tip: Did you know RLT offers a summer camp? They are now registering for 2018 Summer Camp – ages 4-18 offered at RLT, Apex, Wendell and Wake Forest locations! Learn about their upcoming 2018/2019 Season: Acts of Courage!

This March, make plans to go see one or both of these Raleigh Little Theatre performances and support the arts with your family/friends. Check back here on SobeSavvy.com for my review of Beanstalk! the Musical! Hope to see you there!

DO YOU ENJOY THEATRE? WHAT WAS THE LAST PLAY YOU ENJOYED?

Looking for a place to create #art while enjoying your favorite #wine? Then hurry to @WineDesignCary 🎨🍷

This past Saturday I joined some ladies at Wine & Design Cary,NC for a fun girls day out! It literally was a party with paint and a purpose. The purpose was to leave all worries behind and find the time to express yourself by creating art. No experience is necessary. You just need to be ready to release your creative juices. I would recommend this business as a fun thing to do in Cary or any of their other locations. All you have to do is sign up, show up, sip up and paint! Here’s how:

SIGN UP!

Head over to Wine & Design‘s website here: http://www.wineanddesign.com/locations/cary

Review the calendar to see the daily events. They offer a variety of paintings to choose from. We signed up for “BAE” which is a portrait of a beautiful black woman with an afro. I love big hair, so when I heard of this class, I had to be there!

Where: 🍷Wine & Design 🎨
483 James Jackson Avenue
Cary, NC 27513

The price of that class was $35 per person but will vary. How to pay & register: Online or by Phone, 919-535-8695.

SobeSavvy Tip: Use this $5 off coupon code when you book your class – WINE2018

SHOW UP!

Wine & Design stands apart from the other paint and sip studios in many ways. You can just show up during most weekdays at 11 am for their “Pop-In Paint” time. This is a time where you can feel free to paint whatever your heart desires on professional grade materials and products. Show up on the weekends for formal painting events. You can come solo, with some girlfriends or a great date night. Wine & Design is a great place to have corporate team building events and private parties. They also host kids birthday parties. No matter the reason why you chose to show up or who you show up with, be ready to have an awesome time!

SIP UP!

So what did I bring to Wine & Design? My favorite wine, friend(s), snacks, & laughter 👩🏽🍾🍇🥂🧀!! As featured on the popular show “Shark Tank”, this studio has the unique BYOB feature. Most places in the paint and party genre force patrons to purchase pre- selected wine and beer at their painting venue. Here, guests are encouraged to bring ANY wine or beer of their choice.

Come with a group where everyone brings their favorite bottle and you now have a wine tasting event amongst your neighbors! We brought snacks for our sips which included fruit, cheese, crackers, chips, hummus, veggie plates, and mini sandwiches set up on a side table and organized by our group’s party host. It was like having a painting picnic! The studio supplies, ice, cups and bottle openers if needed.

PAINT!

A lead painter (ours was Iseah Mills) guides all the guests for instructional painting of the specific portrait of the evening to take home to display proudly for their families and friends. All supplies and materials are provided: an apron, 3 paintbrushes, water, paint, paper towels, easel and canvas. I was pleasantly surprised to see the canvas was not blank but was lightly outlined with what we were going to paint. I loved the atmosphere of this studio. The pre-selected music playing had us all singing along while we sipped and painted. Faves from Maxwell, Lauren Hill, Erykah Badu, some oldie but goodies RnB were in rotation. Our instructor was very easy to follow and the flow of the class went well. No matter what was needed: more paint, extra paper towels, clean water..you name it and a staff member was there to get it for you. It was a sold out class with 3 tables and ten to each table. Although aproximately 30 ladies were painting, it did not feel cramped. Class lasted for 3 hours. A bit longer than I expected but hey….time flies when you are having fun!

My masterpiece is currently in my living room and I look forward to returning to Wine & Design Cary to paint, sip and get my art buzz on! I hope you are inspired to book a class soon and do the same because🍷+🎨= FUN! Check out more photos here of my experience at Wine & Design and see more of my experience here:

Have you ever gone to a paint and sip studio? What was your experience like?

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

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!

#BookReview | Let The Children March by @MonicaClarkRob + More #BlackHistoryMonth Books Every Child Should Read #sponsored

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review of Let the Children March.
Let the Children March is brand new picture book by Monica Clark-Robinson that gives readers an in-depth look at the Civils Rights Movement and the little freedom fighters who had a big impact on changing the world! This is the author’s debut of her first children’s book in which she collborated with Frank Morrison to illustrate and bring these historical moments to life!

This book gave incredible insight and accurate information about the Children’s March in 1963. I personally do not recall learning much about this in school, so it was with great pleasure to learn the story along with my 6 year old daughter. Her reactions to what the children did, how brave they were and the struggles faced at that time were indeed priceless.

The narrator of the book is a young girl so that immediately caught the attention of my daughter. Although the chatacter is fictional, the events are not. You can tell the author put a whole lot of research into this book to make it as real and accurate as possible. Not only was art done by illustrator Frank Morrison, but actual photographs from the events in Birmingham on 1963 were used.

I think everyone’s introduction to Black History in school is probably thru learning about Dr. Martin Luther King. So when my daughter saw that he was a part of this movement, her face lit up as she recognized someone she had been studying about at home and school!

His efforts and purpose of the movement was also shared in the book. His ideas to ‘fill the jails’ with people arrested for marching in order to disrupt government and make change happen had some obstacles when adults were too afraid to lose jobs. The introduction of children to the Civil Rights Movement, he later wrote, changed everything! Watch this video for a look inside this beautifully illustrated book and a read-a-long snippet from #outandaboutAvareads:

👏👏 Bravo to the author and illustrator for finding a balance of giving enough details to tell this story of courage and hope without scaring young readers. My daughter understood that the bravery those children had then makes a difference in our lives now!

With just a week left of Black History Month (although these books can be read during any time of the year), I wanted to share some other books we have enjoyed as part of the #outandaboutAvareads series for families and teachers to know more about Black History. Check these out in addition to Let The Children March:

📚 Mahalia Jackson: Walking with Kings and Queens by @ninanolan111 📚Our Legendary Ladies: Harriet Tubman by @ourlegendaryladies 📚 Bedtime Inspirational Stories-50 Amazing Black People Who Changed the World by @bedtimeinspirational

For more information about Let The Children March, follow
Website: https://monicaclark-robinson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monica.clarkrobinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/monicaclarkrob
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaclarkrobinson/

..and hashtags #letthechildrenmarch #childrenscrusade #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth

Ever heard of the Children’s March in 1963? What moments in Black History have you shared with or read to your child? Comment below..and thanks!

Celebrate #GirlDay2018 + National #EngineersWeek with @American_Girl ! #EWeek2018 #Stem

Did you know that its National Engineers Week? February 18th thru 24th is a week dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of engineers and their work. With two uncles that have careers as electrical engineers, my 6 year old daughter may just become one herself when she grows up! She has an increasing desire to know how things work and when they don’t, she wants to know what can be done to fix it.

Learning, Building, Creating with #outandaboutAva

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, women represent 50.6% of the US population yet make up only 11.7% of all engineers. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day on February 22, 2018 (part of the larger observance of National Engineers Week) is all about changing that forever and American Girl is inspiring young girls with their 2018 Girl of the Year, Luciana Vega.

Luciana’s first book unlocks behind-the-scenes storytelling

Luciana shows what it can mean to be a girl of strong character today, where creative thinking, collaboration, and STEM literacy provide opportunities for meaningful growth and development. Technology continues to revolutionize what we do and what we know, and Luciana is a character that can bring visibility and valuable lessons to girls at a time in their lives when they’re learning about their infinite potential to change the world.

Saturn V, the rocket that was built to send people to the moon and used in the Apollo program in the 60’s and 70’s, is just one part of the journey to create Luciana’s character

This doll and her story inspires young girls to be curious, courageous, and determined. Bringing this story to life is an all-star advisory board that includes: Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Maureen O’Brien, Manager of Strategic alliances at NASA, and Dr. Megan McArthur Behnken, NASA Astronaut.

Luciana’s Mars Habitat unlocks space missions

I love how American Girl sparks a passion for science and problem-solving in our girls while developing toys, books, accessories that complement STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) curriculum. Take a look at this video sharing Luciana’s development and story theme:

More than just one day, Introduce a Girl to Engineering is a national movement that shows girls how creative and collaborative engineering is and how engineers are changing our world. Read more about the #GirlDay February 22 observance on American Girl’s Explore site. Here is a link to that article which is filled with information on how/where to celebrate and more :

http://www.americangirl.com/explore/articles/introduce-a-girl-to-engineering-day/

Thanks American Girl for inspiring girls to learn and be creative thru play. This helps in developing a child’s mind and lays the foundation for a great engineer one day! Be sure to visit americangirl.com/luciana to explore bonus content and discover all the interactive ways to play.

#OutandaboutAva meet Luciana Vega, American Girl of the Year 2018

What ways are you celebrating engineering week? Do you have a girl that creates and play with an American Girl doll?

My experience opening night viewing @theBlackPanther Movie @Raleighwood Cinema Grill ! #BlackPanther #WakandaForever 

Disclosure: I received complimentary media passes for viewing of first showing at Raleighwood, however opinions about my experience are my own.


In anticipation of BLACK PANTHER coming to theaters it was with great pleasure that I saw Raleighwood, “Triangles’ top rated movie theater, and only truly unique restaurant since 1993” was showing the movie on Thursday 2/15 !! I have heard about this cinema and how you can enjoy great food and drinks while watching hit movies in a casual and comfortable environment. Raleighwood hosted myself and a guest (my friend, fellow blogger Jen of jenoni.com rolled with me) to a girls night out in Raleigh to see a movie we all have been waiting for…BLACK PANTHER!

Why is this movie so important for us to see? Because as African-Americans we rarely, if ever get a chance to see ourselves as a super hero. Marvel Comic has solved that issue with this movie. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say this movie was Ahhh-maaazzzing! From the costumes, to the script, the setting and of course the great acting and action, this is movie that needs to be seen by EVERYONE! I especially loved the representation of powerful women in this film, which showed a great balance of the women leading and serving. SobeSavvy Tip: Stay past the credits (both of them) for movie extras. Just when you think it’s over. It ain’t over! You don’t want to miss what Marvel Studios have planned for BLACK PANTHER!

Synopsis: Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

Check out this cool featurette for Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER about how the film went from the page to the screen!

Stay informed….

Like BLACK PANTHER on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackPantherMovie

Follow BLACK PANTHER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblackpanther

Follow Marvel Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvelstudios/

BLACK PANTHER arrives TODAY in theatres everywhere on February 16, 2018! If you live in Raleigh, plan to see it at RALEIGHWOOD for a unique movie with dining experience. Get there early and choose from the various seating and table arrangements inside the theater. They serve food, beer and wine to be consumed before and during the feature film. We split an order of their chicken wings and a order of steak fries and it was pretty good! The whole experience was great and I plan to go back to see BLACK PANTHER again for the $5.50 matinee today!! Yep..it was that great !

Have you seen or plan to go see BLACK PANTHER? Share your thoughts below! Thanks for reading! Wakanda Forever!

Raleighwood Cinema Grill

6609 Falls of Neuse Road

Raleigh, NC 27615

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

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! 💖💜💖