Where to eat, play and sway outside Raleigh in October
1. QueenBurger
DURHAM
Calling all (burger) kings and queens! This oh-so-meaty all-the-rage joint from the team behind Kingfisher and Queeny’s that cooked up as a pandemic parking lot pop-up has finally opened its brick-and-mortar at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus—and, well, you burger believe the drive is worth it. The casual yet bangin’ double-patty smashed grass-fed beef and handmade veggie and vegan burgs (the signature topped with griddled onions, NC hoop cheddar cheese, special sauce and pickles) will make you feel like royalty (and royally satiated!)—and the fresh cocktails, wine and draft beer are perf for washing it all down. We can’t wait to get smashing. eatqueenburger.com
2. Osteria G
APEX
Named after an Italian osteria—aka an establishment serving a simple wine and food menu with an emphasis on local specialties—The OG (as some call it) takes traditional Italian food to new heights with “beautiful farm-to-table-style creations carrying an Italian soul.” Helmed by executive chef Manny Lozano, who trained in France and worked at several high-end restaurants in New York City, the modern Italian resto feats seasonal starters, entrees and desserts that’ll keep you coming back for more—think meatball Wellington, gnocchi fondue, bucatini puttanesca and ragu Napoletano—plus Italian wine and spirits, natch. It may just be the next best thing to dining in Italy—and far cheaper than a plane ticket. Ciao, bella! osteriag.com
3. OC Aerial
DURHAM
Thrill-seekers, this one’s for you. This adrenaline junkie playground is the ultimate all-in-one 16,000-square-foot indoor adventure park, feat. ninja obstacle courses, a warp wall, rock climbing, zip line and super-cool slick slides that launch riders onto an inflated cushion (!)—taking the Tom Petty song “Free Fallin’” to a whole new level. And if you’re really looking for an adrenaline boost, take on the Leap of Faith, a belayed free fall from 22 feet. … The name says it all. Think you have the guts?
oc-aerial.com
4. Carrboro Music Festival
CARRBORO
Anyone who’s been to this community-minded fest will tell you it’s “Carrboro’s favorite day.” This year, 100 local bands—think Organ Failure, Too Much Fun, Sad Magazine, The Gone Ghosts and more—will take to the stage at 16 venues across town, from Weaver Street Market to Cat’s Cradle to The Station to Steel String Brewery, offering a diverse range of music specifically chosen for each of the venues. And to boot, this year will be the first time the musicians are getting paid (!). Established in 1998, the festival was originally held as an official affiliate of the Fête de la Musique (aka Make Music Day) to “make all genres of music more accessible to the public through free concerts.” Get ready to jam out! carrboromusicfestival.com
5. Taipei 101
CARY
Let us school you on what might be the best and most authentic Chinese food in the Triangle (case in point: It’s made N&O’s list of Best Restaurants: Best Chinese (Taiwanese) for the past six years!). Founded with a goal of offering a side of Chinese food not typically found in the buffet lines, this hidden gem specializes in Szechuan, Zhejiang and Taiwanese styles of cooking, with fave dishes including the scallion beef pancake roll, Szechuan-style beef noodle soup, anchovy fried rice and mini steamed buns. You’re gonna wanna ditch your standard Chinese takeout stat. carytaipei101nc.com
