Where to eat

What to do

• Love Candle Making Bar | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 2-7 p.m. | The Self Care Marketplace, 12 W. Martin St., Raleigh | $25 | Customize a pre-poured candle to include herbs and botanicals — Champagne is included.
• Valentine’s Day Cocktails & Videri Chocolate Experience | Wednesday, Feb. 14-Thursday, Feb. 15 | 5 p.m. | The Green Light, 108 1/2 E. Hargett St., Raleigh | $75 | Sip on three specialty craft cocktails in a speakeasy setting paired with three Videri bonbons during this two hour reservation.
• Theatre Raleigh In Concert: Sun Records Live | Wednesday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 18 | Times vary | Theatre Raleigh, 6638 Old Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh | $50-$75 | Celebrate 70 years of Sun Records, the legendary recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, with this live performance.

• Intro to Bird Identification | Thursday, Feb. 15 | 7-8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Register to help with The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), an international citizen science event where people count and report the birds they see over a four-day period in February.
• “She’s The Man” Networking & Movie Night | Thursday, Feb. 15 | 6-9 p.m. | Paragon Theaters, 21 Fenton Main St., Ste. 110, Cary | $10 | Join this fun night of woman empowerment featuring a panel on navigating a male-dominated industry, dinner, drinks, networking, and a screening of “She’s The Man.”

• Fusion Family Day | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Artspace, 201 E. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Bring the whole family to experience this multicultural celebration of Black History Month and Lunar New Year with activities, demonstrations, refreshments, and more.
• Chili Cook-Off With Blackbird Brewery | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 12-5 p.m. | House of Hops, 6909 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 100, Raleigh | $0-$15 | Visit this bottle shop to judge or show off your chili recipe.
• Pizzette Party — Exclusive Tasting Event | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 3-5 p.m. | Sassool, 9650 Strickland Rd., Raleigh | $5 | Pizzettes resemble pizza made with a thin pita crust sans marinara — six pies will be available for tasting, ranging from traditional pizza flavors to za’atar spices and fig + mint.

• Construction for chef Scott Crawford’s Fenton concept, Crawford Brothers Steakhouse, is set to begin within the next few weeks and open later this year. The project was announced in 2018, and plans for the steakhouses build-out have now been filed with the Town of Cary for review. (Triangle Business Journal)

• John Legend is coming to Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Aug. 1. “An Evening With John Legend” will feature songs + stories from the Grammy-winning artist. Tickets are on sale this Friday, Feb. 16. (WRAL)

• Durham Bulls Athletic Park is in the running for USA Today’s readers’ choice for Best Minor League Ballpark. Help the Durham Bulls sweep the competition by voting once per day until voting ends on March 11 — winners will be announced on March 22. Bonus: The team just announced dates + tickets for Copa de la Diversion.

• Smoky Hollow’s Madre and Andia’s Ice Cream collaborated to make a sweet treat. After enjoying a delicious meal at the tapas spot, try one of three creative ice cream flavors. We’re saving room for the Red Room dark chocolate ice cream with a hint of cayenne.

• Join West Street Dog + Oak City Yoga this Saturday, Feb. 17 for a Pop-Up Market + Pup Crawl near Five Star at North West Street Plaza. From vendors like Chance’s Flea providing antiques, clothing, and jewelry and Hause of Dogs, there will be plenty for you and your pooch to do.

• The Sola Pop-Up Market is back at the neighborhood coffee shop on Mother’s Day weekend, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get ready to sip, stroll, and shop from local artists and makers. Sign up to be a vendor.

• Ten years ago today, the Triangle was immobilized by freezing rain and snow. The News & Observer reminisced on the snowy mess where drivers had no choice but to abandon their cars as roads became blocked with traffic.

• Hey there, environmental superstars: The Environmental Awards Program is open for applications and nominations. With just a couple weeks left to participate, RAL residents are invited to nominate a person or organization going above and beyond — or to show their environmental creativity. Learn more + apply (nominations close March 1).*

• This $900 prize package is up for grabs thanks to Highland Brewing’s Get Lucky With Gaelic Giveaway. Enter for free through March 31 for a chance to win a Highland hammock, a voucher for Wrong Way River Lodge + Cabins, and a whole lot more.*

• There’s still time to send Valentine’s Day flowers. Pick up a bouquet at Fallon’s Flowers (pro tip: arrive early, they sell out), or shop same-day delivery bouquets on 1-800-Flowers.*

• If you spent your whole Sunday reorganizing your closet, here’s another spring cleaning suggestion: Move your credit card debt. This card offers 0% interest on a balance transfer until mid-2025. That’s over a whole year to pay off your balance, sans interest. Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash back on purchases.*

• “My now-fiancé and I got engaged at Moore Square! He surprised me with a barber shop quartet that serenaded us before he got down on one knee.” — Anonymous reader
• “My best friend, Colleen, set me and her coworker, David, up on a blind date. We decided to meet at Boxcar in downtown Raleigh on July 27, 2017 and the rest is history. We will be married for four years in December 2024. It really was the best place for a blind date and I couldn’t be more grateful that we had it.” — Anonymous reader
• “It all began with a swipe right and a drink at the bar (The Anchor Bar). A year later he dropped on one knee at NCMA. Four years have gone by and we are happily married and still living in Raleigh with our two precious golden retrievers.” — Alex R.