Triangle Today | Wednesday

TRIANGLE TODAY | THE NEWS & OBSERVER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Check out the T O D A Y triangletodaync

@triangletodaync

@triangletodaync

FUN FINDER at kidstownnc.com

NC CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL back with new twinkling displays, a new dragon Joe Johnson for Triangle Today Decorative lanterns hold a special place in Chinese culture. The art form goes back more than a thousand years. They represent hope for good fortune and prosperity. They symbolize happiness.

theatre for the fourth straight year.

“Lanterns represent the hopes we have for the coming year,” said Yi Zhou, UNC-Chapel Hill professor of Asian Studies. “And they’re part of our New Year’s celebration.”

Miao Zhang of Tianyu Arts & Culture, the company putting on the festival, said all the lanterns are new for this year’s festival. Pandas, koi fish, peacocks, and pagodas, among other lantern types are making their debuts in Cary. The highlight is a new 200-foot dragon that will take its customary place on Symphony Lake, he said.

Chinese lanterns will be celebrated during the next several weeks in Cary as the town hosts the N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival at the Koka Booth Amphi-

Cary Cultural Arts Manager Lyman Collins said having a refreshed lineup of lanterns will give festivalgoers a different experience when it opens Nov. 23.

“It may be the fourth year for the festival, but it will be different from the first three,” he said. “It’s good they’re changing it up and not bringing back the same lanterns from year to year.”

Most of the lanterns were made by hand in Zigong, Sichuan, the lantern capital of China for thousands of years. The steel frames of varying sizes and shapes have a weather-resistant silk fabric stretched over them and are lit with hundreds of LEDs. Artisans now are busy unpacking the 19 shipping containers it took to get them from China and assembling them.

NORTH CAROLINA CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL WHEN: Nov. 23-Jan. 13. Open daily from 6 to 10 p.m.

Closed Mondays except for Dec. 24 and 31.

TICKETS: For night-specific tickets, advance tickets are $15 for adults or $18 at the gate; $10 for youth 3 to 12 or $12 at the gate; and free for children 2 and younger. Discounts for seniors (55 and older), college students with ID and military Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday.

Any-night tickets are $20.

WHERE: Both Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary INFO: 800-514-3849 or boothamphitheatre.com

Joe Johnson

As the days cool down, the fun heats up at Kids Town!

TRIANGLE TODAY’S

Find fun family-friendly events, crafts, recipes, offers and contests at kidstownnc.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

weekend fun BLOCK2 GALLERY PRESENTS STOP 233 Fayetteville St. Raleigh, NC 27601 Jason Mitcham and Gerco de Ruijter, through Jan. 30, 2019. Gerco de Ruijter explores the boundaries of the recognizable and reducible presentation of landscapes. Jason Mitcham uses mark making to unfold a story. No longer are marks made with the ultimate, final state of the image taking precedence. Rather, every mark creates the animation, so only the next movement matters. Raleigh Art’s Block2 Video Series is a visual platform for video, digital and new media artists. Block2 Gallery is in Market Plaza in Downtown Raleigh and can be viewed free nightly, beginning at dusk.

A FEAST FOR ALL THE SENSES: BRUNCH INSIDE A MUSEUM Saturday, 11:30 am, Sunday, 10:30 am North Carolina Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh Iris, the Museum’s full-service restaurant, serves contemporary American cuisine with regional and international flavors. Specializing in seasonal fare using many locally sourced ingredients, Iris features culinary works of art that showcase a complex culture of flavors.

Brunch highlights include the Oak City Benedict on a sweet potato biscuit, Belgian waffles, design-your-own omelets, chicken salad, burgers and more.

GARDEN SUPPLY COMPANY PRESENTS BREAKFAST WITH MRS. CLAUS 1421 Old Apex Rd., Cary, NC 27513 It‘s the most wonderful time of the year here at Garden Supply! We are excited to welcome back Mrs. Claus for our annual Breakfast with Mrs. Claus event! Join us for a continental breakfast (juice, muffins, fruit, juice, etc.), a story read by Mrs. Claus, and photo opportunities. Be sure to bring your letter for Santa that Mrs. C can take back to the North Pole for you. We will have pony rides available on 12/1 and 12/15 from 11am-1pm! Space for this event is limited, so please be sure to register in advance (when registering, you only need tickets for the children attending).

We will begin promptly at 9am!

Read more at events.triangletoday.com

TRIANGLE TODAY | THE NEWS & OBSERVER

With this theatrical production and a film, you might say ‘Aladdin’ is having a moment Ed Condron for Triangle Today

It’s not surparticipation and a prising that mix of contemporary Kris Lythgoe and retro music. quotes his “This is a style that father when I grew up with,” Lytalking about thgoe says. “We have his latest music from a number production, of eras. It ranges from “Aladdin and Ray Charles to Bruno his Winter Mars.”

Wish.” LythgThere’s even some oe’s father, ‘80s tunes, such as Nigel Lythgone-hit wonder Matoe, was the thew Wilder’s “Break producer of My Stride.” blockbuster “The ‘80s are my era,” reality singing “Aladdin and his Winter Wish” will run Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

Clarence Alford Photography Lythgoe says. “There competition was a lot of fun music then and this is a fun produc“American Idol” and is the executive producer of tion. It’s Aladdin. It’s a good time.” dance competition “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“My father once said that we spend all of our time worrying about our kids walking and talking when they’re very young and we spend the rest of their childhood telling them to sit down and shut up,” Lythgoe cracks while calling from his Los Angeles office.

Aladdin, the story, is having a moment. “Aladdin” is on Broadway, and the traveling production will come to DPAC next fall. A live remake of the animated film hits movie theaters in May.

Lythgoe, 39, wants children to interact with actors during “Aladdin and his Winter Wish,” and encourages it. The Lythoe Family production will run Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

Lythgoe, the father of two children, has a soft spot for the theater since he grew up with it, courtesy of his mother, Bonnie Lythgoe, who was a dancer.

“We’re used to just sitting there throughout a production, but we have a character that will let kids know that it’s fine to connect with the characters,” Lythgoe says. “We want the kids to have fun with the genie in Aladdin. The children can boo. We love that the fourth wall is broken. There is a narrator that stays with the audience throughout the show.

Theater should be fun. I think our production is different.”

Indeed. Lythgoe’s show has local touches. The character Wishy Washy will wear a shirt that is part UNC, Duke and NC State.

“We can do things like that, so why not do it?” Lythgoe says. “The whole cast enjoys it.”

Jason Gotay, who appeared on Broadway in “Bring It On: The Musical” and “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” stars in “Aladdin and his Winter Wish.”

The production is based on the Aladdin fairytale of a street rat with a dream. Lythgoe’s show follows the style of the traditional British Panto with boisterous singing, comedic moments, audience

“Aladdin is hot right now,” Lythgoe says. “It’s a timeless tale that everyone knows and loves.”

“It’s a great environment for kids,” Lythgoe says.

“Not enough children get to see what theater is about. People always think it’s an expensive, high fallutin’ event. It doesn’t have to be. We try to make it as affordable and kid-friendly as possible.”

There will be arts and crafts tables and princess makeover booths along the concourse of the theater.

“We want kids and families to have fun and come back next year,” Lythgoe says.

“ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH” PRESENTED BY NC THEATRE When: Seven shows Nov. 29 through Dec. 2.

Times vary.

Where: Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 2 E. South St., Raleigh Tickets: $25 and up Info: 919-831-6941 or nctheatre.com For groups of 10 or more, call 919-831-6941, ext. 6949.

Learn more at triangletoday.com.

TRIANGLE TODAY | THE NEWS & OBSERVER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

TRY TO RESIST ORDERING JUST ONE OF FUZZY’S EMPANADAS Greg Cox for Triangle Today

The menu board by the order window on the Fuzzy’s Empanadas food truck is unusually informative, listing every component in the filling of each empanada.

The Triple P, for instance, contains “pork sausage, ham, chorizo, onions, red & yellow bell peppers, mozzarella/ provolone blend.”

If you still have questions, just ask the man wearing a black baseball cap and a perennial smile in the order window.

That would be Roy Thombs, aka Fuzzy, who owns the truck with his wife, Kem. He’ll explain that the pork sausage in the Triple P is crumbled country-style breakfast sausage.

Ask him which which empanada is his favorite, and he’ll tell you that it’s — what else? — The Fuzzy: “seasoned ground beef, cilantro, red & yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, olives.” He’ll probably add that he likes to dip the empanada in his homemade queso, a blend so popular that people have been known to call in and order it by the gallon.

The Fuzzy is my favorite, too, though I haven’t yet had any empanada from the truck that I wouldn’t gladly order again. If pressed, I’d probably pick the TLC (chicken marinated in tequila, lime and orange juice, topped with white American cheese) as a close second.

And I can’t imagine hitting the truck without ordering a dessert empanada — apples, raisins and walnuts when I was there last fall, or Nutella-strawberry more recently.

I haven’t had the B & C (bacon and cheddar) yet, but I understand it’s a crowd favorite. Or the vegetarian Shroom (sautéed mushrooms, onions, garlic, red and yellow bell peppers and cheddar) or the Just Cheese (mozzarella/provolone blend), evidently aimed at cravings for a grilled cheese sandwich.

Regardless which empanadas scratch your itch, it will be folded into a crescent of savory pastry dough that Thombs has folded and crimped by hand and deep-fried to a flaky, blistery turn. Dessert empanadas get a bonus dusting of powdered sugar.

If you’re ordering several empanadas — for a crowd, or to take home and reheat — no need to worry about getting them mixed up. Each comes in its own individual paper bag stamped with the name of the empanada.

Find out where they’ll be at fuzzysempanadas.com/findfuzzy/

48

BEFORE

MONTHS INTEREST FREE FINANCING (OAC)*

A beautiful new bathtub right over your old one!

OR

15% off

**

on the purchase of a complete Bath Fitter system

• No demolition • Installed in as little as one day • Premium quality, high gloss acrylic bathtub and wall • Easy to clean, virtually maintenance free • Lifetime warranty †For as long as you own your home.

A publication of The McClatchy Company 421 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, Ste. 104 800-522-4205, newsobserver.com Sara Glines, President and Publisher 919-829-4659 sglines@newsobserver.com

For customer service regarding delivery, please send email to deliveryissues@newsobserver.com For information about advertising, contact Kaki Berkeley, 919-836-5997, kberkeley@newsobserver.com

Call for your FREE in-home CONSULTATION

(919) 261-3338 000-000-0000 8200 UNIT G ARROWRIDGE BLVD CHARLOTTE, NC 28273

B A T H F I T T E R .C O M

®Registered trademark of Bath Fitter Franchising Inc. Bath Fitter Franchise. Independently owned and operated by Martin Martin Renovations Inc. * Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. **Special offer good on the purchase of a bathtub or shower, wall and faucet kit. One offer per customer. May not be combined with any other offer. Offer must be presented at the time of estimate. Discount applies to same day purchases only. Previous orders and estimates excluded. Offer valid only at the above location. † Subject to certain limitations. Offer ends 2018-12-31.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

TRIANGLE TODAY | THE NEWS & OBSERVER

Join WALTER for its fourth year of Celebrate the Season, an exclusive shopping event that brings all of your favorite local retailers under one roof!

Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’ oeuvres by Donovan’s Dish, cocktails by Durham Distillery, and exclusive Walter gift bag!

CELEBRATE the

SEASON Wednesday, November 28 sponsored by

Zest Café + Home Art • BOHO Beads • Great Outdoor Provision Co. • Flourish Market • Peppertrain Jewelry Chaza Sauce • If It’s Paper • Gretchen Quinn Pottery • Seton McGlennon • Logan’s One Stop Garden Shop Videri Chocolate • Retro Modern Furnishings • Summer Rose • Jane Cheek & more! waltermagazine.com/savethedate