Entertainment

Cape Fear Studios presents exhibition featuring recycled art

Local artists 18 and older have the chance to pour their passions out and display their art in Cape Fear Studios’ newest exhibition. The theme is recycled art, which ties perfectly into the recent Project Upcycle workshops hosted by the arts organization.
These workshops were held on Saturday, Aug. 1 and Saturday, Aug. 8 and introduced fun and free recyclable art activities for children ages 4 to 12.
The upcoming Recycled Art Exhibition is non-juried, meaning anyone can submit their work for display by paying an entry fee. Artists can enter one piece for $15 or two pieces for $25.
Entries will be accepted Aug. 20-21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the studio’s 148 Maxwell St. location. All entries must be for sale.
For artists who want to have their pieces in the gallery, the works in this exhibition should consist of at least 50% recycled human-made or organic materials, whether discarded or found. Both 2D and 3D works are welcome.
A small sampling of the types of work Cape Fear Studios will accept includes sculpture, pottery, paintings, photography and collages.
See their website for full details at https://www.capefearstudios.com/event-details/recycled-art-exhibition.
Art that highlights the environment around us and our duty to care for it has become more widespread alongside increased attention to preserving environmental health in a tech-forward age.
Reworking existing objects into artwork or newly functional items are two ways to reduce waste while making meaningful statements about consumerism and modern waste strategies.
According to Pandy Autry, president of Cape Fear Studios, the motivation for putting on this exhibition came directly from the Project Upcycle workshops. The classes allowed children to put together crafts made from recycled materials and show off their finished pieces afterward.
Some of the items the young creatives used to embody their innovation included egg cartons, ribbons, yarn, metal can pop tops and plastic lids.
Seeing the children express themselves through their completed artwork inspired the idea to hold an exhibition for adult artists to do the same while carrying on the eco-conscious theme. Gallery visitors can expect to see a range of creative reimaginings of once-used items.
“We’re most looking forward to the types of things people can make with the different materials and what people can do with their imagination,” Autry said.
Along with recognition among their community and the opportunity to unveil their talent, artists may be further motivated to enter with a first place prize of $125 and two honorable mentions with prizes of $50 each. A juror will be present to determine who receives the prizes.
“We’ll have someone judging the items and they will choose,” Autry said.
The exhibition will begin on Friday, Aug. 28, with the opening reception held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The pieces will remain on display in the Cape Fear Studios Main Gallery until Tuesday, Sept. 22. The gallery is located at 148 Maxwell St.
Learn more about this event by contacting Cape Fear Studios at artgallery@capefearstudios.com or 910-433-2986. RSVP for opening night by filling out the form at https://www.capefearstudios.com/event-details/recycled-art-exhibition/form.

(Photo: Cape Fear Studios will be holding an artists' reception for those who participate in the Recycled Art Exhibition on Friday, Aug. 28. Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Studios.)

Jelisa's Supper Club hosts "Bridgerton" themed event

Fayetteville has no shortage of restaurants and dining experiences to choose from. A quick Google search will reveal a plethora of restaurants representing an incredible variety.
There is food from every corner of the map. There are restaurants for every budget, with inexpensive options as well as fine dining. There are chain restaurants with menu items that are famous all over the country, and locally owned places where the owner gets to know your regular order. Included in this variety of dining options is a relatively new, and certainly unique option that is more than just a meal, but an experience: Jelisa’s Supper Club.
Jelisa’s Supper Club has been hosting unique, themed dining events in the Fayetteville area for several years. The company’s namesake, Jelisa, is the culinary talent behind the local favorite Dorothy’s Catering 2. Her skill, style, and creativity are the centerpiece of every Supper Club menu.
The pop-up events that are the centerpiece of the Supper Club always have a theme that informs the menu, decor, and the vibe. Past themes have included a Jamaican Night, Cinco de Mayo, and a Luxury Winter Gala.
The next Supper Club event will be unique and exciting, with its theme centered on the pop-culture phenomenon, Bridgerton. On Aug. 30, the Bridgerton-Inspired Supper Club will be a celebration of “the charm, sophistication, and indulgence” that we have all come to associate with the romantic dramedy Netflix series.
The evening will feature a five-course meal, with food inspired by the series and the Regency era. While the menu is not yet finalized, guests can rest assured that they are in for a delicious meal.
The event will feature a Tea Bar. Available throughout the evening, the Tea Bar will feature a selection of premium teas, floral infusions and classic accompaniments. Guests will be invited to create their own signature blends of tea to accompany their meals. Whether you like your tea fruity or bold, sweet or savory, you will have the chance to make your cup just the way you like it.
The theme will not end on the plates, but will influence every aspect of the night. The table setting, decor including floral displays, and music will all evoke the spirit of Regency glamour and sophistication.
Even guests are invited to contribute to the spirit of the theme by donning their best Regency-style attire. If you don’t have the perfect costume to fit the time period, don’t fret; anything that is elegant and sophisticated will be just right for the evening of refined charm.
The fun and frivolity will kick off at 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon at 226 The Warehouse, an elegant event venue on 226 Donaldson Street in downtown Fayetteville. Tickets are available on Eventbrite; go to eventbrite.com and search for Jelisa’s Supper Club.
If you’re ready to break out your empire-cut dresses and white gloves, your tailcoats and cravats, join other Bridgerton fans and foodies to enjoy Jelisa’s Bridgerton-inspired Supper Club event on Aug. 30, starting at 4 p.m. at 226 The Warehouse in Downtown Fayetteville.

Beignets on the Bayou serves food, culture, curiosity

Cumberland Cooks transforms a five-minute idea into an immersive family experience filled with New Orleans food, history, music and imagination.
In just five minutes, Je’Lesa Jefferson created a concept that could bring children into the library for a hands-on experience connecting food with culture, history and imagination.
Jefferson, a library associate with Cumberland County Public Library, developed “Beignets on the Bayou” during a youth services training at Headquarters Library. Staff members were challenged to create a program idea in five minutes.
Jefferson’s thought was simple and immediately visual.
“Wouldn’t it be cool to eat the food that we see on the screen?” she recalled.
A self-described “very Disney-coded” person who carries a “The Princess and the Frog” backpack, Jefferson looked to Princess Tiana’s beignets as a familiar entry point for children and families.
“I thought that it would be cute to set up a program and not just talk about Princess Tiana and beignets, but actually talk about the culture behind it in New Orleans,” she said.
The program is part of Cumberland Cooks, an initiative that uses two Charlie Carts shared among all eight Cumberland County Public Library locations. The carts are mobile kitchens that allow branches to offer hands-on cooking instruction.
Participants in “Beignets on the Bayou” will enter a room decorated to resemble a bayou before dividing into smaller groups for hands-on activities. They will prepare bite-sized beignets, listen to jazz, sip “swamp juice” and explore a presentation featuring New Orleans history and culture.
While the beignets bake, children can move through themed activities, including a Jazz Junction station, a frog craft station, trivia and a beignet bakery station. Jefferson also plans to introduce them to early jazz pioneer Charles “Buddy” Bolden and the cornet.
The Disney theme gives children and adults something familiar before leading them into a broader conversation about the people, music and traditions behind the food.
The goal is to let children taste, listen, create and learn their way through the experience.
Wendy Foley, Hope Mills Library associate for youth services, recognized the potential in the idea and encouraged Jefferson to take the lead.
Foley helped define the target audience, work through the budget, determine the necessary supplies, build a timeline and think through the logistics involved in bringing the program together. Her role was to provide structure while leaving room for the idea to grow in Jefferson’s hands.
“She brought all the creativity, and I was just there to help her turn her vision into the program,” Foley said.
“Beignets on the Bayou” is the first program Jefferson has developed, and she said watching it move from idea to execution has shown her what goes into building youth programming from the ground up.
During the process, she was promoted from library technician to library associate and is preparing to join West Regional Library as a youth services associate.
“Seeing the stages from the idea to the execution and everything that goes on within it is pretty great,” Jefferson said.
“Beignets on the Bayou” will take place Monday, Aug. 17, from 3 to 4:15 p.m. at Hope Mills Community Library. The class, designed for 10 children ages 6 to 11 and their parents or guardians, has reached capacity.
Cooking together gives families an opportunity to connect while children practice skills they can carry into adulthood, according to Amanda Dekker, branch manager at Headquarters Library. That shared experience is why parents and guardians participate alongside their children.
Dekker said Cumberland Cooks classes became popular enough at Headquarters Library that staff continued offering monthly cooking programs even when the Charlie Cart rotated to another location.
With grocery prices placing added pressure on household budgets, Cumberland Cooks focuses on recipes that are affordable, quick and approachable. Staff also try to use equipment commonly found in most home kitchens so families do not have to purchase specialty tools to recreate the meals.
Across the Cumberland Cooks program, Dekker said participants have enjoyed the recipes and become more willing to try unfamiliar ingredients. She hopes the broader initiative continues growing until all eight library locations can offer regular cooking classes.
That same mission is reflected in “Beignets on the Bayou,” where the value extends beyond the beignets families will prepare.
“Food can be something more than you just eat,” Foley said. “It can tell a story about the culture and traditions.”
Jefferson hopes families leave with a positive memory, greater curiosity about other cultures and a renewed connection to their local library.
What began as one quick thought has become an experience inviting children to taste, listen, create, learn and return.
To learn more about programs the Cumberland County Library system has to offer, visit https://cumberland.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming

Show me your cans: Cape Beard's food drive returns

A beard may be the club's trademark, but giving back is what truly defines Cape Beard. For more than a decade, the Fayetteville-based beard and mustache club has been serving the community through charitable events, and one of its most anticipated traditions returns this summer. Show Me Your Cans invites the community to enjoy an afternoon of live local music while helping stock the shelves of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina.
"We are a local beard and mustache club," said Cape Beard President Doug Cameron. "Founded in 2011, we are a group of guys with facial hair that try to make a difference in our community and have fun and brotherhood while doing it."
This year's event marks the ninth Show Me Your Cans food drive, bringing together local music and community support for a meaningful cause. The first event was held in 2012, and after a few years of growth, the fundraiser has become an annual tradition for the past five years.
"This is our 9th SUYC event," Cameron said. "We coordinated local musicians to play for our audience, and we will collect five canned food items as donations for admission," said Cameron. "We do also accept $5 instead of the cans."
Every donation collected benefits the Second Harvest Food Bank, helping provide meals to families throughout the region. Cameron said any nonperishable food items are appreciated, and monetary donations are also forwarded to the food bank to support its mission. In addition to live music, attendees can enjoy Cape Beard's signature Beard Burgers and Stache Dogs while supporting the food drive.
For Cape Beard, addressing food insecurity is personal.
"We all have needed help at some time in our lives or know someone who has needed the service of the food bank," Cameron said. "It is important for us to help when we can."
While attendees see the music and food, much of the work happens behind the scenes. Club members and volunteers collect donations throughout the day, transport food from collection sites and prepare and serve food during the event.
"Picking up collections and handling the donations as they come in during the event," Cameron said. "They will also be cooking and serving Beard Burgers and Stache Dogs."
The event is designed to be more than just a food drive. Cameron hopes visitors leave with a greater appreciation for the power of community.
"We hope they have a good time listening to some good local musicians and have a sense of community while providing a needed benefit to those needing assistance," he said.
Those who cannot attend can still participate by dropping off donations at one of several community collection sites before the event. A list of locations is available on Cape Beard's Facebook page, where updates and event information are also posted.
Show Me Your Cans is just one of several ways Cape Beard gives back throughout the year. The organization also hosts its annual Pig Pickin' fundraiser each spring and Beardtoberfest, a beard and mustache competition held each fall. Both events rely on community sponsorships, raffle donations and volunteers to help continue the club's charitable work.
Whether someone arrives with a bag of canned goods, a cash donation or simply a healthy appetite for a Beard Burger, every contribution helps make a difference. For Cape Beard, the mission has always been about more than collecting food; it is about bringing people together to support the community.
"We hope they have a good time listening to some good local musicians and have a sense of community while providing a needed benefit to those needing assistance," said Cameron.
Show Me Your Cans will take place Saturday, Aug. 15, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at North South Brewing at 304 Williams St. For event updates, collection information, and additional details, visit the event page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1342731271386302

Metro Kappa Foundation hosts food, music festival

It’s still hot, but the fall season is approaching, and summer is slowly coming to an end. On Saturday, Aug. 22nd, from 11:30 a.m.- 9 p.m., the Fayetteville Metro Kappa Foundation invites the community to the annual Eats & Beats Food and Music Festival at Festival Park, a family-friendly event packed with food trucks, vendors, door prizes, and live entertainment provided by local favorite DJ Ryan. This year’s event will feature special guest rapper, actor, fashion icon, and Kappa Ambassador, Clay James. Admission is $10, and children 12 and under are free.
General admission includes full-day festival access, kids zone access, and eligibility for door prizes and giveaways. VIP tickets, The Crimson and Cream Experience, are available for $100 and include all-day festival access for two people, reserved covered seating, a catered dinner experience, a complimentary cold non-alcoholic beverage and express festival check-in. A portion of all proceeds will go back to the Kappa League to help support the mentorship and scholarship fund, a perfect opportunity to enjoy the last bits of summer and support the young men in the community.
Security will be strictly enforced, and the attendees should follow Festival Park’s clear bag policy. Personal tents are not allowed in the park, but the Kappa Foundation will have tent rental availability for $75. Tent rentals come with extra perks, including a designated area on the lawn, 3 general admission tickets, the ability to bring your own cooler, and a premium viewing area for entertainment. Tickets and rentals can be made online at https://bit.ly/4wgJxcS
Originally an event for alumni, family and friends to support the missions of the Fayetteville Metro Kappa Foundation, Beats and Eats Food and Music Festival has now grown to a full community-wide event with a greater impact.
“What began as a community gathering has grown into one of the area’s signature family-friendly events. Beats And Eats brings together local businesses, entrepreneurs, food vendors, entertainers, and thousands of residents for a day of celebration, featuring music, culture, food, and community. More importantly, this festival serves a greater purpose,” a spokesperson for the event said. “A portion of every dollar raised benefits the Kappa League Mentorship Program, an initiative of the Fayetteville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Through mentoring, leadership development, college preparation, community service, and scholarship opportunities, Kappa League is helping shape the next generation of leaders throughout Cumberland County.”
The Kappa League is a mentorship program geared towards young men, grades 6-12, in the community, “designed to provide both challenging and rewarding experiences” for future generations. Founded on the principle of Training for Leadership, Kappa League encourages “young men to pursue meaningful goals, develop strong character, and prepare for future leadership roles within their schools and communities. The program encourages academic excellence, personal growth, civic responsibility, and leadership development while helping participants navigate the challenges and opportunities that shape their future. ”
The Fayetteville Metro Kappa Foundation League meets on the third Sunday of every month. To learn more about the Kappa League, how to get involved, or scholarship information visit https://fmkappa.org/.

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