February 16th - 22nd Triangle 2017

by Pam & Michael Davison

I have a daffodils blooming in my garden and the cherry trees are blooming throughout the Triangle! Spring must be right around the corner.

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The Fun Starts Early

Finding Dory will be the featured flick this Thursday for Pizza and a Movie Night at the Halle Cultural Arts Center. Come back Friday night for a Family Dance complete with a traditional dance caller and live old-time string band.

Thursday night's Science Cafe at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature Alzheimer's and Your Heart: How Exercise Helps.

Art in the Evening returns Friday night to the North Carolina Museum of Art with the acoustic sounds of the David Dryer Trio and the the classic film, The Taming of the Shrew. You can also join them for a Friday Night Sound Bite on Knowing Where to Stand.

Third Friday is back in Durham with their popular Gallery Crawl.

"Pondering Environment and Culture" by Jenn Hales & the Annual Youth Art Expo will be featured at Friday night's Opening Reception at the Halle Cultural Arts Center Friday evening.

Its Family Movie Night Friday at Hill Street Community Center. Bring the kids to enjoy a Finding Dory, popcorn and a drink.

Step into the Graham Building, Dorton Arena and Exposition Center Thursday through Sunday at the NC State Fairgrounds for the NC International Auto Expo!

Also at the Fairgrounds, the Coastal Paws Cat Show will be at the Holshouser Building Saturday and Sunday.

  The Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy, annual event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Several of our Triangle parks are participating this week with special programs and hikes.

Lake Crabtree County Park will celebrate the 20th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count with daily Counts. Join park staff each morning Friday through Monday to learn field ID techniques and collect data in a variety of habitats. Also on Friday, come check out their Birds of Prey Discovery Table in the park office.

On Saturday at Crowder Park, enjoy a variety of bird-related games, activities and crafts as well as learn about ways to attract birds to your outdoor space, how to identify common backyard birds, learn bird calls, make suet, and help count birds at the park feeder at Backyard Basics as well as an Afternoon Backyard Bird Count.

Take a GBBC Bird Walk at the American Tobacco Trail to the Beaver Creek Bridge Friday morning.

Saturday morning come to Historic Yates Mill County Park for Breakfast with the Birds. Enjoy doughnuts with a cup of shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee or hot chocolate for the kids, before leisurely walking the trails with a park naturalist to identify and count the birds. Come back Sunday for an Afternoon Backyard Bird Count.

Count the Birds Saturday at Marla Dorrel Park. Enjoy refreshments after the count as they tally the results.

They will be looking for Winter Birds and Eagles Saturday morning at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.

Kids can Get Crafty with a Bird Bonanza Monday afternoon at Crowder District Park.

All day Monday, drop in to Historic Yates Mill County Park to explore National Birds as you celebrate Presidents Day and the Great Backyard Bird Count in one fell swoop! Learn about the use of birds in national symbols and make your own bird-themed Great Seal to take home.

More Indoor Fun

Friday is the next Durham Community Day at the Museum of Life & Science. The bimonthly event offers opportunities for Durham residents to visit the Museum throughout the year for free. Proper identification showing proof of residence for each adult is required to receive free admission.

You're invited to bring up to three objects to the North Carolina Museum of History Friday for assessment and advice on care from their conservators during Conservation Assistance Day. Call ahead to make an appointment.

The Winter Market is back to the Holly Springs Cultural Center Saturday. Click through for a list of vendors an an opportunity to pre-order.

It's a Super Fun Saturday at the Halle Cultural Arts Center Saturday. Kids are invited to come have some super fun with free arts & crafts.

Join the Pinecone Kid Jam at Marbles Sunday afternoon. Musicians 18 and under are invited to bring their instruments and play along or you can get an up close look at instruments, make a scrap-instrument to take home and tap your toes while you enjoy the music.

Happenings at the Parks

Gather Around the Campfire Saturday evening to read a nature story while roasting marshmallows at Durant Nature Park.

Come join a ranger for some Fishing in Occoneechee's Ponds Saturday afternoon.

It may still be cold outside, but now is the time to Learn to Fly Fish so your ready for spring fishing Saturday at Falls Lake. On Sunday, you can learn how to attract Cool Critters like frogs, salamanders, birds and pollinators to your yard.

It is the year of the Spider in North Carolina State Parks. Come to Eno River State Park Sunday to learn about these amazing creaturesand then take a hike down to Fews Ford to look for examples of good spider habitats.

This Sunday's Winter Hike at West Point on the Eno will explore Penny's Bend Nature Preserve on a 2 mile loop.

Looking for something to do on your day off Monday? Take a Heart Health Walk Monday afternoon at Blue Jay Point County Park. with Sarah Plentl, Health Promotion Chronic Disease Prevention Section Supervisor with Wake County Human Services.