We’ve rounded up a dozen sweet treats for February (doughnuts too) including some things special enough to share with your sweetie on a certain day this month.
February 2
KRISPY KREME CHALLENGE
It’s time once again for the ultimate sugar rush—the Krispy Kreme Challenge glazes the streets of downtown Raleigh February 1. Since the original doughnut run in 2004, this (almost) five-mile race has become an infamous bucket list item for race enthusiasts as well as a fundraising event for the UNC Children’s Hospital. The race, which is open to runners and doughnut lovers of all ages, begins and ends at the Bell Tower on the campus of N.C. State University. You can register as a No Doughnut Runner (sensible), a few doughnut eating Casual Runner (slightly silly) or a full-on twelve doughnut eating Challenger (totally nuts). Awards and antacid will be distributed at the race’s end.
See website for all race information and to register; krispykremechallenge.com
February 8
FAMILY HEART BOP
Dance the night away February 8 with your valentines at Marbles Kids Museum’s Family Heart Hop. Bop, bump, floss and foxtrot in your finest; make a corsage or a special card for your date, test your fitness in Cupid’s Quest, play in the museum’s exhibits and enjoy tasty treats and special love potions. Love is in the air.
6 – 8:30 p.m.; from $15; 201 E. Hargett St.; marbleskidsmuseum.org
February 11
CELINE DION
Celine Dion proves her heart will go on February 11 when her Courage World Tour powers up the PNC Arena. This is the French Canadian pop diva, fashion icon and soundtrack-of-our-lives singer’s first tour in ten years and, as a thank you to her loyal fans, all online ticket purchases will come with a CD copy of her new English album Courage. Parking lot opens at 5 for “Near, far, wherever you are” vocal warmups. (Parking lot fees apply.)
7:30 p.m.; from $125; 1400 Edward Mills Road; pncarena.com
February 11-18
KINKY BOOTS
Kick up your highest heels at Kinky Boots presented by NC Theatre February 11-16 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The musical with original songs by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, is based on the 2005 British film, which is based on the true story of an unlikely partnership between a cabaret performer and a young man with a failing shoe factory who team up to make a line of high heeled boots, save the business and discover friendship along the way. Kinky.
See website for show dates and times; from $19; 2 E. South St.; nctheatre.com
February 14
LOVE BIRDS AT HISTORIC YATES MILL COUNTY PARK
Looking for something out of the ordinary to do on Valentines Day? Consider taking your sweetie on a field trip. Wake County Parks and Recreation offers Natural Explorations: Love Birds at Historic Yates Mill County Park. A park naturalist will guide a group through the park for some titilating birdwatching. Discover how our feathered friends court, from flaunting feathers and fending off rivals to settling down to build a nest. It’s sure to inspire a little lovey dovey.
10 – 11:30 a.m.; free (registration is required); 462 Lake Wheeler Road; active.com/raleigh-nc
February 14-23
PRELUDE TO A KISS
Pucker up for Forest Moon Theater’s production of Prelude to a Kiss February 14-23. The Wake Forest Community Theater group is staging the classic boy meets girl, boy marries girl, girl gets kissed by mysterious old man at wedding who causes a Freaky Friday-style soul swap. The romantic comedy arrives just in time for an out-of-the-chocolate-box Valentine’s date.
See website for show dates and times; from $13; 405 S. Brooks St.,
Wake Forest; forestmoontheater.org
February 1-16
THE OLD MAN & THE OLD MOON
The theme for Theatre in the Park’s (TIP) new season is change and they are kicking it off with The Old Man & The Old Moon February 14 through March 1. “We wanted to do something new, something different, something not many other people are doing around here,” says Brent Simpson, managing director. And something different it is: The play was developed by the PigPen Theatre Company, an experimental theatre and music troupe out of New York City. It tells the story the old man who keeps the moon, but loses what is most important to him, so he must decide between duty and love. The production brings another change as well—it will be the first show helmed by TIP’s new director, Nancy Rich. TIP hopes you’ll be over the moon about it too.
See website for show dates and times; $24; 107 Pullen Road; theatreinthepark.com
February 15
STORIES BEHIND THE MUSIC
Listen and learn: the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra presents Stories Behind the Music February 15 at Ruggero Piano. Discover the inspiration behind pieces such as Winter Jasmine for Flute and Piano by Gary Schocker; Orange Dawn for Flute and Piano by Ian Clarke; Music in a Bottle for Piano by Miguel del Aguila and Sea Dances for Clarinet, Cello and Piano by Raleighite Lanette Lind.
7:30 p.m.; from $10; 4720 Hargrove St.; raleighsymphony.org
February 19-23
RAGTIME
North Carolina State University Theatre presents Ragtime at the Talley Student Union February 19-23. The Tony Award-winning musical by Terrence McNally (book), Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) is based on the modern classic of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. The story blends historical figures such as Booker T. Washington, J.P. Morgan, Evelyn Nesbitt and Harry Houdini with fictional characters in intertwining storylines set against the backdrop of New York City at the turn of the 20th century.
See website for show dates and times; from $8; 2610 Cates Ave.; theatre.arts.ncsu.edu
February 20
PATRICK O’DONNELL LECTURE
The shot heard ‘round the Triangle: The North Carolina Museum of History welcomes acclaimed military historian and author Patrick O’Donnell for a lecture on the American Revolution February 20. His talk will focus on the 1st Maryland Regiment, known as The Immortals, whose efforts altered the revolution war in the months following the Continental Congress’ formal declaration of independence. Their little-known history is detailed in his book Washington’s Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution.
7 p.m.; from $10; 5 East Edenton St.; ncmuseumofhistory.org
February 22
LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO
Barre none, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (known as the Trocks) is like no other dance company around. The Trocks are an all-male comic ballet troupe that have been sending up the classical ballet canon since the 1970s, and they are bringing all the camp to the Carolina Theatre February 22. En pointe.
8 p.m.; from $10; 309 W. Morgan St., Durham;carolinatheatre.org
February 28
YAMATO THE DRUMMERS OF JAPAN
Drum roll please… North Carolina State University LIVE presents Yamato The Drummers of Japan at Stewart Theatre February 28. Hailing from the Asuku Village in Nara Prefecture, Yamato is a group of highly trained musicians in traditional Wadaiko (Taiko) drums. Make it dinner and a drum date: 1887 Bistro is offering a three-course prix fixe dinner inspired by Japanese culture. Dinner is $32.95 per person. (See website for more information.)
8 p.m.; from $8; 2610 Cates Ave.; live.arts.ncsu.edu
