ZSpotlight.com and TriSports have teamed for another wonderful, unique event for groups and friends Saturday, May 22nd.
WHEN: Saturday May 22, 2010 – 12p start. Hunt plus post-hunt party! (your registration fee includes 2 free pints/psn and light appetizers at the party!)
WHAT: A wacky text messaging Scavenger Hunt with a Monopoly Theme that takes teams of 4 people through 8 Downtown Raleigh districts, visting bars, restaunts, and various points of interest to find clues, answer challenges and demonstrate your team’s ability to Monopolize Downtown Raleigh.
WHERE: Glenwood South, Warehouse, Depot, Fayetteville St, and 4 more Downtown Raleigh Districts.
DETAILS:: Join us Saturday May 22nd for an incredible scavenger hunt where the clues are delivered and responded to via text messaging. You’ll travel thru 8 Downtown Raleigh districts and collect the “Property Deed” cards for 22 properties, 4 railroads, and 2 utilities. You’ll also draw Community Chest and Chance cards as you go, and take care not to land in Jail, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200! .
OBJECT:
The team that collects all 22 Proprty Deed cards, while also finishing with the most money is the winner. Money is won for earning property deed cards, Chance & Community Chest, passing Go, completing team challenges, photo challenges, etc. Money is lost through Chance & Community Chest, incorrect answers, landing on property with houses or hotels on it, etc.
THE PLAY:
Teams gather at the designated starting point where, at 12 noon, teams will receive their first clue via text message. Teams answer clues and proceed to the “property” indicated in the follow-up text message. Upon arrival, teams will have to perform tasks to earn their property deed card. Most stops will require the team to buy (1) beverage per team to complete the challenge and earn the deed card. Earning your property deed cards increases your team’s net worth by the value of that property and also gives you the next clue to solve to get to your next stop. Proceed property to property, earning deed cards by correctly answering clues and completing challenges. When you land on a street corner with a Chance Question Mark or Community Chest painted on it, your team is required to draw a card. Once your team has collected all 22 property cards, made stops at all 4 railroads, Water Works & Electric Company, plus drawn your Chance and Community Chest cards, you’ll receive a text notifying you of the location of our post-hunt wrap party, where each team member will receive 2 FREE pints of beer and we’ll also have light appetizers (full menu will also be available, should you desire something heartier). Teams not completing all the above before the hunt end time will receive text notification that the hunt has ended and where to proceed for the wrap party. Most all teams will finish before the cutoff, but if you lollygag or get thrown in jail too much, you may not make it.
| WINNING THE GAME: First Prize – $700 ($200 cash & $500 in Gift Certificates) COST: REGISTER AS A TEAM OR AS AN INDIVIDUAL: |
Friday, May 14th
ZSpotlight.com and Mura of North Hills hosted one of the Triangle’s most exclusive outdoor evenings last night in North Raleigh for a capacity crowd of 300 plus. With a winning combination of high end sushi, great music, and exciting ambiance, ZSpot added a fashion show into the mix with the runway surrounding the beautiful outdoor fountain in North Hills. With tickets selling out well before the event, Mura and the ZSpotlight plan to expand this unique event series for the next party June 3rd, 2010. This ZSpot concept will continue to thrive in North Raleigh throughout the summer. For photos, visit the ZSpot Photo Galleries. Last night’s photos are uploading now onto Z.
Event Link: ZSpot Sushi Tasting Party
If you want to get invited to this event or be informed weekly on all the best dining and entertainment events, click here and sign up for our newsletter! Z-Weekly Weekend Update
For other great event tickets, and AMAZING DEALS, visit these pages! ZSpot Great Deals
Every month from May- September ZSpotlight will have a Summer Sushi Tasting Party at Mura of North Hills. All events will be 21 and up to enter. Ticket prices are $10 to party and eat, or party after all sushi tasting tickets are sold out. We will have multiple cash bars and food stations set up throughout the patio where you can enjoy the best sushi in town! Every year we have brought something new and exciting to each event and this year will definitely not disappoint! Dates and themes are listed below so save the date and start planning that perfect outfit to fit our themes!
These events are very popular so please do purchase your tickets in advance! We want you to be a part of this amazing experience!
March 2-7, 2010
“An unexpected jolt of sudden genius!” Clive Barnes, New York Post
Broadway’s most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award®-winner in years opens at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award® winning Broadway musical, will open at DPAC next week beginning March 2nd and playing for one week only. Tickets start at just $25 and still remain for the Triangle premiere of Spring Awakening at DPACnc.com, 919-680-2787 or Ticketmaster.
Spring Awakening swept the 2007 Tony Awards® winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).
Hailed as the “Best Musical of the Year” by the NY Drama Critics Circle, the Drama Desk, the Outer Critics Circle and the Tony Awards®, Spring Awakening has emerged as the most talked about new musical on Broadway.
“Broadway may never be the same. This brave new musical, haunting and electrifying by turns, restores the mystery and the thrill to that shattering transformation that stirs in all of our souls.” Charles Isherwood, The New York Times.
Based on the infamous 1891 Frank Wedekind play, Spring Awakening features an electrifying score by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics Steven Sater, direction by Michael Mayer and choreography by the award-winning Bill T. Jones.
Set against the backdrop of a repressive and provincial late 19th century Germany, Spring Awakening tells the timeless story of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality as seen through the eyes of three teenagers. Haunting and provocative, Spring Awakening celebrates an unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget.
“A miracle that must be seen to be believed … The best new musical in a generation.”
John Heilpern, The New York Observer
Set design is by Christine Jones, costume design is by Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Tony Award-winner Kevin Adams and sound design by Brian Ronan.
Spring Awakening opened on Broadway on December 10, 2006 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, following its world premiere at the Atlantic Theatre Co. The original cast recording of Spring Awakening won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Spring Awakening is produced by Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and the Atlantic Theatre Co.
“The most explosive new musical since RENT!” Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger
Spring Awakening contains mature themes, sexual situations and strong language.
Tobacco Road Cellars Wine Series Set to Begin
Billed as “Not Your Typical Winemaker Dinner”
January 25, 2010; Raleigh, NC – Boutique winery, Tobacco Road Cellars, is hosting a wine
series at Solas in the Glenwood South entertainment district of downtown Raleigh beginning
Wednesday, January 27th and following on February 24th and March 24th.
Winery owner Jason Earnest will walk the dining room and introduce Tobacco Road Cellars to diners as well as offer special pricing for some of his winery’s highly acclaimed vintages like Tobacco Road ‘s deep red with soft purple rim, lifted bright fresh berry fruit showing red currant and blueberry notes. Rich mouth filling weight that swamps the palate with ripe, juicy flavor that runs through to a long and fine tannin finish.”
Also featured on January 27th is a Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highland, one of California’s up and coming viticulture regions. In fact, many wine writers and enthusiasts agree that the Santa Lucia Highlands stands shoulder to shoulder among the top names in Pinot. From Santa Barbara’s White Hawk Vineyard, Earnest is introducing a beautiful Syrah created through a 100% signature single vineyard. This region is quickly being recognized by wine connoisseurs the world over as a top producing wine region.
“Drinking good wine is an experience, something special; it’s a celebration of sharing, connecting with someone and making memories,” says Earnest. The North Carolina native started Tobacco Road Cellars in 2004 after going to Napa Valley on a whim to create own wine to give as holiday gifts. After bottling 25 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and tasting his bounty, Earnest was bitten by this new passion. Earnest has not lost sight on what brought his vision to where he is today. He plans on keeping Tobacco Road Cellars very intimate, keeping it a oneon-one personal experience that is lacking in today’s world.
“From the succulent grapes that we hand pick, to the high-end French oak barrels we use for aging, to the delicate hand-dipped wax seal, we pay attention to every single detail and demand the highest quality at every level,” remarked Earnest. Today, Tobacco Road Cellars has a halfdozen bottlings under its belt, a host of loyal collectors and wine enthusiasts vying for a bottle of their limited production, and the endorsement of Gary Vaynerchuk of the nation’s best-known wine aficionados. Tobacco Road Cellars also was just named “Winery of the Month” by Amanda Hagood of The
Reservations are recommended for the Tobacco Road Wine Series at Solas where diners also will enjoy an award winning meal from Executive Chef Cliff Vogelsberg.
What: Tobacco Road Cellars Winer SeriesSharon Delaney McCloud; 919-810-5085; sharondmccloud@gmail.com
When: January 27th, February 24th and March 24th
Time: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Where: Solas – 419 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh
Reservations: Call Solas now at 919-755-0755
Since the completion of Fayettville Street a couple years ago, Fayetteville Street has become the home for every single street festival in Downtown. And now that the street is open from the Capitol Building to Progress Energy Performing Arts Center, the options for holding street festivals like Raleigh Wide Open are infinite.
To see all of Raleigh/Durham’s New Year’s Eve events, Click Here.
The next upcoming major event hosted by Raleigh’s on this popular main street is First Night, to celebrate the new year. Event starts at 5pm and will last until midnight. Various performers and activities will be live throughout the local businesses that make up Fayettville Street and the surrounding area, including live music, dancing, and more! Visitors can admire the Raleigh City Museum, enjoy discussions at the Urban Design Center, or listen to music concerts at local churches and the Progress Energy Center.
This night will climax on the main stage with the band Annuals followed by fireworks and the annual dropping of the Raleigh Acorn.
The First Night Event Map can be viewed here and more on the performers and activities here.
Download the full First Night Downtown Raleigh Schedule here (PDF).
Many medical professionals* have finally recognized the benefits of drinking red wine and recommends one glass per day for woman and two glasses per day for men. What is so special about red wine and why is it getting so much attention by health professionals? The French, although they eat the good stuff like buttery croissants and cheeses, are primarily thin and have low mortality and heart disease rates. Hmmmm……..is this because they consume more red wine than the rest of us?
Elixir –noun
1. Pharmacology a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances.
2. Also called elixir of life. an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of prolonging life.
We have all heard that there are many health benefits of drinking red wine, but what exactly are those benefits, where do they come from and what varietal holds the most benefit?
Some of these benefits come from Resveratrol, which is an antibiotic produced by plants when under attack by bacteria or fungi. Many foods and drinks contain resveratrol but only in small amounts. Peanuts, grapes and blueberries for example. The skin of grapes used to make red wine have the highest levels of this powerful antioxidant making red wine the best source for a daily dose of resveratrol, even more so than simply eating the grapes. Why red and not white wine? Because reds have higher levels due to how they are fermented with their skins and seeds. The skins are removed from most white wines grapes before fermented.
All reds contain resveratrol, but Pinot Noir is found to contain the highest levels of this age/cancer fighting chemical substance. Pinot Noir’s grapes are thin making them more delicate causing them to potentially rot easier so they naturally produce more resveratrol to protect themselves. It has even been said that the region in which the Pinot Noir grape comes from can also affect the levels present. If the climate is both cool and moist it will produce higher resveratrol; so areas like Washington, Oregon, New York and even North Carolina may be a good choice. It stands to reason that certain vintages could be affected as well.
Resveratrol studies show that it can potentially affect diminishing heart disease, diabetes, allergies, preventing damage to blood vessels, prevents blood clots, Alzheimer’s, cancer, lowering “bad” cholesterol and reduce memory loss as well as prolonging your life (wow, I am going to live to be 100) and check this out, helps protect from obesity.
Now this does not mean if you drink a bottle of Pinot Noir each day you will live a long healthy life, but possibly by consuming more Resveratrol it could be a powerful life-enhancing natural substance. If you don’t care for wine, there are supplements you can take that contain Resveratrol, which is what is found in the skin and seeds of the red wine grapes.
Cheers to your good health!
The holidays are here and it’s time for planning a party. Liven up your holiday with a different spin by hosting a wine blending party! It’s easy, creative, and informative, bringing out everyone’s imaginative spirit. This is a great opportunity to deepen your knowledge of wine while having a blast!
The purpose of a wine blending party is to create traditional blends from single varietal wines while bringing people together, having fun and enjoying the time of year meant for celebration. If you haven’t read the post dated Nov 5th on “What exactly is a Meritage Wine,” please do. This will help you understand what a blend is and what makes a traditional Bordeaux blend wine. Keep in mind, during this party, do what you want, experiment and bring out the chemist in you! There are no rules, just match your personal preferences and who knows what will happen. You will be surprised and enjoy all the different palates your guests bring to the party even though you may have been sharing wine together for years.
Picking the wine: (if you purchase a kit you won’t need to buy the wine; however the kit does not include a Malbec, so you may want that varietal on hand. If you don’t go with the kit and purchase your own wine, try to stay with the same producer, but it’s not a rule.)
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Most blends focus on this as the main varietal, making it the backbone of blends to carry the rest of the varietals through. Look for rich red to black fruit; not overly tannic, but well-balanced.
- Merlot: Traditionally a very fruit forward wine and usually the lighter of the reds with raspberry and cherry. A little bit can go a long way in a blend.
- Cabernet Franc: Can be a bit more aromatic then the other reds, offering more on the nose in a blend.
- Malbec: Deeper red fruits and very thick wine, bringing a lot of structure and texture to the blend, velvet and big tannins.
- Petite Verdot: Gives the blend that long lingering finish, known as “the finisher” and maybe some floral notes.
Getting the tools together:
Once you make the guest list (and keep it manageable), make it easy and purchase a wine blending kit online that will have just about everything you need. You can either get your own wines and tools or purchase a kit online at Fusebox Crushpad or just Google Wine Blending kits as many wineries offer these as well to promote their wines. For example Bourassa Vineyards offers a kit for $79 (on sale now for $39)
Fusebox costs $80. It takes about five business days to receive so give enough time since shipping may take longer during the holidays. You get half-bottles of Napa-sourced wine which includes two Cabernet Sauvignons, one Merlot, one Cab Franc, and one Petit Verdot. These are the four of five main blending grapes used to make Bordeaux (lacking only Malbec, for some reason). Each kit will accommodate four people with four placemats, four mouth pipettes (used to transport a measured volume of liquid) and a cork pull. You can also create your own label online. What a great holiday gift this would be for your friends and family – a wine blended by you with your own label! Very cool.
Set up:
The day of the party, organize a blending station for pairs or groups of four. If you have the kit make sure you also have plenty of wineglasses, a spit bucket and pencils. If you didn’t get the kit you will need to either purchase the tools or rummage through your kitchen. Tools you will need:
- Wine (see above for picking the wine)
- Measuring device, preferably a graduated cylinder for precise blending. If not, use a measuring cup but it won’t be very accurate
- Since a wine thief is not something we all keep around you can use a turkey baster or plastic straw, but use only one per varietal
- Index cards
- Placemats (not the good ones, use vinyl if you can)
- Several empty bottles to put your finished blend. You can use old ones, just remove the label and run through the dishwasher with hot water.
Why a spit bucket you ask? Every wine brings something very different to the table. By spitting the wine it allows you to have a cleaner palate because swallowing the wine will create a lingering taste and aroma which affects how the next wine tastes. Plus, your blend may not taste so great if you get too tipsy while creating your wine.
Ideas for the index cards:
WINE BLENDING PARTY
Budding Winemaker Name or Group:____________________________
VARIETAL PERCENTAGES NOTES
Blend #1
Blend #2
Blend #3
Blend #4
Blend #5
Let the blending begin:
Keep your formula a secret from the other groups and then everyone can pick their favorite at the end. As you go about blending and experimenting you will be excited about your new discoveries of how each varietal can really change the aroma and flavor of your blends.
Pour each wine varietal into a glass (you can use a beverage glass for this part since it is more steady than a wine glass). Print the name of each varietal on an index card and place the correct glass on each card.
Start where your palate takes you and don’t worry about picking the wrong varietal because there are no rules! Start with about 35% of the varietal you want and pour it into the cylinder or use the wine thief (or straw) into a measuring cup. It’s important to keep track of the amount you are using of each varietal as you begin your recipe. As you add each additional piece smell the wine, but don’t taste yet. Let your nose tell you where to go next. Keep track of your math so you don’t go over 100%. Remember, you don’t have to use all five of the varietals.
Once the final blend is created, have each group take their recipe and make an identical blend for the group to taste using the new bottles.
Tasting the finished product:
Swirl, sniff and sip — vote on the top three looking at the nose, the intensity of the fruit, weight and finish. Give the winners a bottle of Meritage to honor their winemaking talents. If you’re lucky, they’ll open them up and share!
Cheers!
“I think music and art in general eases the stress of life for people. Survival is stressful and when you go into the creative aesthetic zone of an art form or a piece of music where the artist is creating this wonderful wavelength, it brings pleasure to the listeners and calms them, and that helps them rehabilitate their own intentions to create.”
- Chick Corea
November 15, 1969
During a concert in Tampa, FL, Janis Joplin is arrested and charged with using “vulgar and indecent language.” The incident began when a policeman with a bullhorn ordered people in the audience to sit down and Joplin responded, “Don’t **** with those people!” When police backstage instructed Joplin to tell the audience to take their seats, she replied, “I’m not telling them ****.” After being arrested in her dressing room, Joplin was released on bond and all charges were eventually dropped.
November 16, 2001
A life-sized statue of Sonny Bono is unveiled in downtown Palm Springs, CA, where he was once mayor.
November 17, 1980
John Lennon and Yoko Ono release Double Fantasy, Lennon’s last album. Lennon would be murdered by a deranged fan on December 8.
November 18, 2002
Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman threatened a US journalist with legal action because he shares the same name as the musician. Lawyers ordered the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter to “cease and desist” writing under his birth name, insisting that he add a disclaimer to everything he writes, “clearly indicating that (you are) not the same Bill Wyman who was a member of the Rolling Stones.” The writer however, was born with the name in 1961, three years before the musician changed his name from William George Perks to Bill Wyman. The whole thing eventually died down and no suit was ever filed.
November 19, 1977
The Ramones’ lead singer, Joey Ramone (real name: Jeffrey Hyman) suffered second-degree burns when a faulty humidifier exploded before a show in Passaic, New Jersey. After emergency treatment, he finished the concert, but would spend the following week at the New York Hospital Burn Center.
November 20, 2001
Madonna’s childhood home in Oakland County Michigan, sold at an auction in just 12 minutes. The house, along with a few items of Rock memorabilia was purchased for $331,000.
November 21, 1964
Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is” enters the Hot 100, where it will peak at #6 during a 14-week stay. The song would become a hit all over again when James Taylor took it to #5 in 1975.
There are few entertainers and shows that come to the DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center that can claim to have run for over 20 years, had more performances on Broadway than Cats, and enchanted over 12.5 million people in New York alone. The Phantom of the Opera, coming to DPAC November 26 through December 20 as part of the SunTrust Brodway series, claims these accomplishments and so many more.
The Phantom of the Opera, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, premiered on Broadway January 26, 1988, after a very successful start in the UK two years before. The show’s been running strong ever since, still entertaining adoring fans at the Majestic theatre on Broadway.
For those few people who’ve managed to go the 20+ years of this musical’s existence without learning what it’s about, here’s a basic summary for you: the musical is based off of the novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, the story of a masked phantom who dwells beneath the Paris Opera House and harbors a deep, but unrequited love for the up-and-coming opera starlet Christine Daaé. The phantom works to develop Christine into the perfect performer, completely under his control. And if you needed this summary, then you’re one of the folks who should definitely go see it; Phantom is a cornerstone of Broadway shows. And even if you did know the facts, why not see again the biggest show ever to come to Broadway!
Phantom will reach its 21st anniversary while it shows at the DPAC. Don’t miss your chance to have a legendary Broadway experience; be sure to get tickets to Phantom.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.dpacnc.com, by phone at (919)680-2787 or at the DPAC box office. The theater is located on 123 Vivian St. in the American Tobacco District in Durham.