October 2015
Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau
WWW.VISITCHAPELHILL.ORG
West End Poetry Festival
2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of Carrboro’s poetry
festival, and the festival will bring together poets of different styles,
ages, races and ethnicities, and stages of development to explore the
themes of celebration, milestones, and marking time.
The West End Poetry Festival is Oct 16-17. On Friday from 6:30 to
8:30 pm come to Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill for an opening reception
and readings by five poets. On Saturday from noon to 8:30 pm come to the Century Center in
Carrboro for poetry readings, panel sessions, workshop, an open mic, evening reception, and
finale readings. Here is a list of participating poets. Celisa Steele, who serves as the town’s poet
laureate (2013 to 2016) will introduce the events on Friday night and kick off the Sat session. All
events are free and open to the public.
Photo - Celisa Steele
Film, Fare & Wine
Be one of the first to enjoy the new Silverspot Cinema before its public
opening and support Kidzu Children's Museum at the same time. The
event on Oct 21 includes a 6 pm to 7 pm private wine and appetizer
reception featuring items from Silverspot's new restaurant
Trilogy. Then from 7 pm - 10 pm choose your movie and enjoy the
show. Tickets are $25 and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to
Kidzu to support their rich menu of educational programs. Purchase your tickets at Kiduz or online.
Only 250 tickets will be sold.
The Silverspot Cinema is set to open to the general public on Oct 23 at its new location at
University Place on S. Estes Drive. An official Ribbon cutting is that morning at 10 am.
Photo - Silverspot Cinema Seating
Late Night With Roy
Join the University of North Carolina men's basketball team and
celebrate the tipoff of the 2015-16 season on Oct 23 at Late Night
With Roy. Hosted by Tar Heel Kenny Smith (UNC' 87) of TNT, the
annual celebration is the beginning of basketball season at Carolina.
There will be a special recognition of longtime Late Night host Stuart
Scott, who will be posthumously awarded a Tar Heel Trailblazer
Award. Admission is free, and seating will be general admission. Dean Smith Center doors will
open at 6:30 pm. Men's basketball player introductions will begin at 7:30 pm.
The Tar Heels will perform with several campus dance, music and sketch comedy groups, including
CHiPs, UNC Bhangra Elite, Harmonyx and the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. A special appearance by
the Carolina women's basketball team (including player introductions, videos and a dance routine)
will occur prior to the men's Blue-White scrimmage.
Parking will be available for $10 per vehicle in the Ramshead Deck (starting at 3 pm), the Craige
and Jackson Decks (starting at 4:30 pm) and in the Manning and Bowles Lots (starting at 5
pm). Chapel Hill Transit will run Tar Heel Express shuttles from the Friday Center starting at 6
pm. The fare is $5 round-trip and $3 for one-way.
Photo from Kenny Smith's Twitter page
Halloween Events
The annual Spirits of Hillsborough tour (photo) will be held on Oct 24
from 5 pm - 9 pm. This fun and dramatic walking tour will bring you
face-to-face with Hillsborough's past with help from the Orange
Community Players. Tickets are timed and groups will depart from the
Hillsborough Visitors Center (150 E. King St.) every twenty minutes from
5 to 9 pm. Tours last approximately one hour. Advance tickets: $5 for
children 12 and under; $12 for adults. Rain Date: Oct 30, 5-9
pm. Please contact the Hillsborough Visitors Center at (919) 732-7741.
The 2015 McKee's Cornfield Maze is open through Nov 1 plus the Haunted Maze on Oct 23, 24, 30
and 31. The Maze hours of operation are Fri 3 pm-8 pm, Sat 10 am-8 pm and Sun 1-7 pm. The
Haunted Maze hours are 6 pm - 10 pm. On these days the regular maze closes at 6 pm. Cornfield
Maze admission is $11, with Haunted Maze at $12 ages 3 - adult and children ages 0-2 Free. McKee
Cornfield Maze is at 5011 Kiger Road in Rougemont.
Tour the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery by lantern and be visited by spirits from beyond the grave
during the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill's Voices from the Grave. This year brings together
the writing talents of John Paul Middlesworth and Paul Baerman in conjunction with Deep Dish
Theater. The Voices from the Grave Tours on Oct 29 and 30 begin at 6 pm and start every 15
minutes until 9 pm. Reservations are required, so call (919) 942-7818 to claim your spot today.
Tickets are $20 general admission.
Stories Under the Stars on the lawn of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro Oct 23 from 5 pm - 7:30
pm. This annual free event features stories, spooky music, Halloween treats, and a costume
contest and is co-sponsored by the town of Carrboro. Bring the whole family.
Celebrate the season with the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center's annual Scare-olina
Skies. Explore the dark legends behind the constellations in this Halloween version of the "Carolina
Skies". The adult and older teens version is Oct 30 at 7 pm and 8:30 pm. A milder family version
of the show perfect choice for families with elementary school-age children is Oct 31 at 2:30 pm
and Nov 1 at 3:30 pm. Regular ticket prices apply for both versions.
The Carrboro Halloween Carnival on Oct. 30 at the Town Commons is 6 pm - 8:30 pm. Come enjoy
the night and experience great carnival games, refreshments and prizes. No registration required
and the event is free. The day begins with a Pumpkin Carving Contest for all ages. Early drop off is
9:30 am - 3 pm and then vote for the winner during the carnival.
Finally, click here for the latest information on Homegrown Halloween on Oct 31 on Franklin
Street in downtown Chapel Hill.
UNC Homecoming Nov 6-8
You don’t want to miss UNC vs. Duke… the Greatest Rivalry on Earth for
Carolina Homecoming 2015, Nov 6-8. Return to Chapel Hill, revisit your
favorite spots, tailgate with Tar Heels, reminisce with friends and make
lasting memories. Game time on Sat Nov 7 is TBA.
The General Alumni Association's Largest Affinity Group, BLACK
ALUMNI REUNION celebrating its 35th year, will meet at the Sheraton
Chapel Hill Hotel. Attendees will participate in various events at venues throughout Chapel Hill
from Nov 5-8. The reunion will include events that are educational, social and inspirational. The
Light on the Hill Society Scholarship Awards Banquet is Friday evening recognizing the Harvey E.
Beech Outstanding Alumni and the Hortense K. McClinton Outstanding Faculty/Staff. Alumni Awards
will be presented to recognize outstanding black alumni who have been stellar leaders within the
University community and or within their local community. The Visitors Bureau is one of the
sponsors of the Black Alumni Reunion.
21st Open Studio Tour
more.
The Orange County Artists Guild Open Studio Tour will be held Nov 78 and Nov 14-15 from 10 am-5 pm Saturdays and 12 noon-5 pm
Sundays. Eighty-three member artists will participate in this 21st
annual juried event, opening their studios located throughout Orange
County, including Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and surrounding
areas. Medium included are painting, mixed media, sculpture, clay,
jewelry, wood, textiles, photography, glass, drawings and pastels and
Two preview exhibitions will be held in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. The Hillsborough Gallery of
Arts at 121-D North Churton Street studio tour exhibition begins Oct 27 with an opening reception
on Oct 30, while FRANK Gallery at 109 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill display begins Nov 3 with
an opening reception on Nov 5. The exhibitions and the studio tour are free. All artwork is for
sale.
Photo - Stone Tea Set by Barbara Higgins
UNC Women's Basketball
Tournament quarterfinals.
Check out University of North Carolina 2015-16 women’s basketball this
year (photo). The Tar Heels begin the season at home against GardnerWebb on Friday, Nov 13 to tip-off a 31-game regular season schedule.
Carolina will play a 16-game Atlantic Coast Conference slate, featuring
home-and-home games against long-standing rivals Duke and NC State.
Louisville will visit Carmichael Arena for the first time in a rematch of
the overtime thriller against the Cardinals in last season’s ACC
Season tickets for all regular season home games in Carmichael Arena are available starting at only
$25 per ticket with great lower-level seats available for less than $6 per game. Fans can purchase
season ticket packages online at goheels.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-722-4335 or in person at
the UNC Ticket Office during normal business hours (M-F, 8:30 am-4:30 pm). To read more click
here.
Bureau Access Guide Honored
The Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), an
international association in Washington, DC whose membership includes
over 600 official Visitor Bureaus and related agencies in over 15
countries, awarded the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau with
its annual WOW award for the Bureau’s 2015/16 Access guide for
People With Disabilities.
The DMAI WOW Awards recognize Exemplary Ideas in Visitor Services and celebrates Destination
Marketing Organizations (DMOs) creativity, effectiveness, and adaptability in servicing the many
visitors that experience destinations worldwide. Each year awards are given for Most Creative,
Most Cost-Effective and Most Replicable. The prestigious award given to the Chapel Hill/Orange
County Visitors Bureau was in the category of “Most Replicable” visitor service at the 2015 Annual
Visitor Services conference held in Salt Lake City on Sept 28, 2015.
To elevate the level of service offered to travelers with special needs, the Visitors Bureau
produced in March the 2015/16 Chapel Hill/Orange County Access Guide to provide information on
how travelers can more easily access services and accommodations, attractions, restaurants and
travel services throughout Orange County, North Carolina. To read the bureau release, click here.
Orange County Spotlight
Visitors to the Top of the Hill Distillery at 505 West Franklin Street can
not only tour the facility, they can also purchase a bottle of the craft
spirits on site now as well. TOPO is the only fully local and USDA
certified organic distillery in the deep South. It is making Piedmont
Gin, Vodka, Carolina Whiskey and new in 2015, Eight Oak Carolina
Whiskey.
Thanks to recent legislation passed into law in the NC General Assembly, as of October 1, it is legal
to sell liquor outside of the ABC system, the first such action since 1909.
While the law only allows TOPO to sell one bottle per person per year, it will give people another
way to try craft spirits. At present, tours of the distillery are available on most Thursdays at 6:30
pm, Fridays at 6 pm and 7:30 pm, as well as most Saturdays at 4 pm and 5:30 pm. So book a tour
and buy one of TOPO's offerings. The entrance to the distillery is off of Graham Street.
Photo - On Oct 1, TOPO's Scott Maitland sells bottle of vodka to NC State Senator Rick Gunn, a key
supporter of the legislation
Orange County In the News
South Magazine featured North Carolina as an Autumn Road Trip
Destination in their Fall 2015 issue. Destinations include Asheville,
Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Writer David Hoppe says
"surrounded by gentle hills and towering trees, Chapel Hill and the
neighboring town of Carrboro are laid-back, yet cosmopolitan. It's a
great place to relax and explore for a day or two, while enjoying some
of the hippest cuisine you'll find anywhere."
Mentions include The Carolina Inn, The Franklin, The Inn at Bingham School, Crook's Corner,
Lantern, The Pig, the Carolina Basketball Museum, Carrboro Farmers' Market, Ackland Art Museum
and Franklin Street. South Magazine is Indy's Southside Magazine based in Franklin, IN, 20 miles
south of Indianapolis. To read the Chapel Hill portion of the article, click here.
Photo of Franklin Street
Welcome to Shannan Campbell, Town of Hillsborough Economic
Development Planner and staff liaison to the Tourism Board. Lindsey
Paydon is the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough's new Communications
& Visitors Services Coordinator.
Check out what's new at Hillsborough's new downtown radio station,
WHUP 104.7.
The Chapel Hill Historical Society's 2015 Town Treasures presentation is Oct 14 at 5:30 pm - 7:30
pm. The annual recognition of Town Treasures has been a project of the Historical Society since
2008, helping to fulfill the mission of making the past present. Town Treasures honors those who
have generously served the community with kind hearts and good deeds. This year's selection of
Town Treasures can be seen here. The Chapel Hill Historical Society is located on the bottom floor
of the Chapel Hill Public Library at 100 Library Drive. The presentation will take place in a meeting
room on the main floor and a reception will follow. The event is free and open to the public.
Due to the inclement during the first weekend in October, the Efland Rodeo is rescheduled to Oct
16 - 17.
The 200th anniversary of Hillsborough's Ayr Mount continues with Cèilidh at Ayr, a Scottish Festival
of music and dancing on Oct 24. Enjoy bands, food, craft beer, wee bairns play area and more.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate; $5 for ages 5-12; free for age 4 and younger. Ayr
Mount is at 376 St. Mary's Road. For tickets click here or call (919) 732-6886.
On Oct 30, the Event Center at Extraordinary Ventures at 200 S. Elliott Road in Chapel Hill is
hosting a dinner theatre production of "Death after Death - A Seance Murder Mystery". This is a
spooktacular event featuring the original and interactive actors of The Phoenix Theatre Company
and an incomparable three-course meal prepared by Chef Paul Covington, (formerly of Crook's
Corner) famous in North Carolina for his special brand of Southern Cuisine with an upscale flair.
Proceeds from this imaginative culinary experience will benefit the mission of Extraordinary
Ventures to employ adults with Autism and other developmental disabilities. Tickets are $60 per
person and include the three-course meal, coffee or tea and a glass of wine. A cash bar is also
available. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the dinner/performance begins at 7 pm. Plenty of free
parking.
The 25th annual Tasteful Affair fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill is Nov 1
from 6 pm - 8 pm at The Blue Zone at Kenan Stadium. The event includes delicious offerings of
more than two dozen of the Triangle's best restaurants, beverage purveyors, bakers and food
trucks. General admission is $75, VIP tickets are $125. Purchase tickets or call (919) 913-2045
The Hickory Tavern located next to the Hampton Inn & Suites at 370 East Main Street in Carrboro
will host a fundraiser for the community radio station, WCOM-LP 103.5, on Nov 5 from 5 pm to 10
pm. Ten percent of food sales totals from receipts deposited will be donated to WCOM, a nonprofit, all volunteer community radio station serving Carrboro and Chapel Hill. The event will
include raffle prizes and the opportunity for listeners to meet show hosts in a fun atmosphere.
Salt & Smoke is Nov 8 from 3 pm to 11 pm at Rock Quarry Farm on Hwy 54 West. Enjoy Acme
Food & Beverage Company's annual celebration of Fall in the South featuring Oysters, BBQ and
music. Tickets range from $22 for children 6 to 12 to $44 or $56 (including two drinks). Small
online service fees are in addition.
Comings & Goings
The new Crossroads Chapel Hill in The Carolina Inn is open. Il Palio has reopened after its
summer renovations at The Siena Hotel. Captain Poncho's Tacos is open in Southern
Village. Crepe Traditions in 140 West is open. Logans Pub & Billiards is open at the corner of
Franklin and Henderson street in the closed Dead End location. Sawasdee Thai Restaurant is open
at 110 N. Columbia Street in the former Sakura Express spot. Shanghai Dumpling is open at 143 E.
Franklin Street replacing Mei Asian. Carolina Ale House is opening Oct 24 at 419 W. Franklin
Street in the former Chapel Hill Chrysler building.
Merlion in Southern Village is closed. Coming soon in this location is Rasa Malaysia.
Chapel Hill's downtown parking locations can be found at www.parkonthehill.com.
Mark your calendar for the Carrboro Film Festival, Nov 21-22.
Like Visit Chapel Hill & Orange County, NC on Facebook. Follow and tag the Visitors Bureau on
Twitter @visitchapelhill.
Media Mentions
Chapel Hill is No. 1 among the " Top 10 College Towns You'll Never Want to Leave," according to
College Magazine, which publishes information about schools and college life for prospective and
current students.