>>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL OCCASION TO VISIT THE
NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY, BUT WHY NOT MAKE A NIGHT OF IT?
TONIGHT WE'RE HEADING TO THE SHOW PLUS TWO RALEIGH
RESTAURANTS SURE TO KICK YOUR NIGHT ON THE TOWN UP A NOTCH.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.
WELL, START OFF WITH TICKETS FOR SEATS AT THIS PLACE AND YOU'LL
BE OFF TO A GREAT START.
>> WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO DOWNTOWN RALEIGH OR AROUND THE
STATE, WHENEVER WE'RE PERFORMING A CONCERT IN SOUTHERN PINES,
CHAPEL HILL, FAYETTEVILLE, WILMINGTON, NEW BERN, OR ANY OF
OUR SPECIAL CONCERTS, IT'S A BIG DEAL.
>> THE NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY IS ONE OF THE STATE'S
OUTSTANDING CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS AND ACTUALLY THE FIRST
STATE-SUPPORTED SYMPHONY IN THE COUNTRY.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MUSIC DIRECTOR GRANT LLEWELLYN SINCE
1993, ITS FULL-TIME ORCHESTRA PERFORMS ABOUT 45 CONCERTS A
YEAR, FEATURING A WIDE RANGE OF MUSIC.
>> PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON WILL HEAR THE GREAT AND CLASSIC
PARTS OF THE CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE.
THEY'LL ALSO HEAR POPS.
THEY'LL HEAR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING.
THEY'LL HEAR FRIDAY FAVORITES THAT ARE A LUNCHTIME TREAT.
>> THIS VARIETY IS A PART OF THE TREMENDOUS EDUCATION MISSION OF
THE SYMPHONY, AN IDEA THAT BEGAN WITH MUSIC CHAMPIONS
DR. BENJAMIN AND MAXINE SWALIN, WHOSE STATUE GRACES THE LOBBY OF
MEYMANDI HALL.
>> THE SYMPHONY'S HOME HALL, THE HEADQUARTERS HALL, IS MEYMANDI
CONCERT HALL IN THE DUKE ENERGY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
THE MINUTE YOU HIT THE THRESHOLD, YOU START HAVING A
GOOD TIME BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOMETHING
SPECIAL.
THEN WHEN THE CONCERT HALL OPENS AND FOLKS GO IN, TAKE THEIR
SEAT, THEY SEE OLD FRIENDS, THEY MAKE NEW FRIENDS, AND THE
CONCERTMASTER, OUR CONCERTMASTER, BRIAN REAGIN,
COMES OUT, AND THEY TUNE THE ORCHESTRA.
AND EVERYBODY GETS QUIET.
AND THEN THAT DOOR OPENS UP AND THE CONDUCTOR WALKS OUT AND
WE'RE ON.
>> AT THE HELM FOR TONIGHT'S CONCERT IS THE SYMPHONY'S
CONDUCTOR IN RESIDENCE, MAESTRO WILLIAM HENRY CURRY.
>> WILLIAM HENRY CURRY HAS BEEN WITH THE SYMPHONY ALMOST 20
YEARS, AND HE IS A COMPOSER AND AN EDUCATOR AND A GREAT
CONDUCTOR.
>> NO MATTER WHO'S WAVING THE WAND BEFORE THIS ORCHESTRA,
AUDIENCES CAN COUNT ON A SPECTACULAR HIGH NOTE TO THEIR
EVENING OUT.
ANY EVENING OUT AT THE NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY IS A SPECIAL
OCCASION.
BUT TO COMPLETE THE PACKAGE, YOU WANT TO START WITH DINNER BEFORE
THE SHOW AND COCKTAILS AFTER.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ELEGANCE AND EXQUISITE ITALIAN CUISINE,
TRY RESERVATIONS AT THIS SPOT.
LOCATED ON EAST HARGETT STREET, CAFFÉ LUNA IS NOT ONLY ONE OF
THE CLOSEST RESTAURANTS NEAR MEYMANDI HALL, IT'S ONE OF THE
BEST.
SINCE 1996, CAFFÉ LUNA HAS SPECIALIZED IN DELICIOUS ITALIAN
CUISINE WITH A TUSCAN FLAIR AND VERY REASONABLE PRICES.
ON THE MENU, YOU'LL FIND LIGHT STARTERS LIKE THIS CRISP
CALAMARI, A WIDE VARIETY OF AUTHENTIC ITALIAN PASTAS LIKE
THIS TAGLIARINI, FRESH GRILLED FISH AND STEAKS, NIGHTLY
SPECIALS LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE OSSOBUCO, A SAVORY BRAISED VEAL
SHANK THAT THESE GUESTS CALLED AHEAD TO RESERVE, AND RICH
DESSERTS, OF COURSE.
THERE'S NO BAR HERE AND NO COCKTAILS.
>> ALLA FAMIGLIA!
>> JUST A RESPECTABLE LIST OF WINES BY VINTNERS FROM ITALY TO
NORTH CAROLINA.
OWNER PARKER KENNEDY, WHO CIRCLES THE FLOOR JUST ABOUT
EVERY NIGHT, PERSONALLY GREETING GUESTS WITH WARM EXUBERANCE, IS
AN EXPERT ON ITALIAN FOOD AND WINE, HAVING SPENT 20 YEARS AS A
WINE REP IN NEW YORK.
SO YOU CAN COUNT ON A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU DINE AT
CAFFÉ LUNA.
AFTER AN EVENING OF GLORIOUS SYMPHONIC MUSIC, YOU MIGHT BE IN
THE MOOD FOR A COCKTAIL OR A LITTLE BITE.
WELL, HUMBLE PIE SPECIALIZES IN LITTLE BITES.
HUMBLE PIE IS LOCATED IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT OF DOWNTOWN.
ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU CAN ORDER FROM THE MENU UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
WE'RE NOT TALKING FRIED MOZZARELLA OR CHICKEN FINGERS.
INSTEAD, HOW ABOUT BROILED TETILLA CHEESE WITH RED GRAPES
GASTRIQUE OR PECAN SMOKED BUTTERNUT SQUASH UNDER A
GENEROUS BED OF CRISPY COLLARDS TOPPED WITH MAPLE YOGURT OR THE
BRAISED SHORT RIB TOSTADAS.
THIS AIN'T EAT AT JOE'S.
WITH ORIGINAL PLATES LIKE THESE, SHARING IS PRACTICALLY A MUST.
AND WITH HUMBLE PIE'S FULL BAR, YOU CAN INVITE COCKTAILS TO THE
PARTY.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO EXTEND ANY SPECIAL EVENING INTO THE NIGHT.
FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND AFTER DARK," I'M DEBORAH HOLT
NOEL.