This month, experience college basketball, stargazing, Mardi Gras soirées and, of course, Valentine’s Day with loved ones.
by Addie Ladner
You’re Too Sweet!
This month, chocolate will be enjoyed in hundreds of ways, from a box of chocolate-covered strawberries to molten lava cakes. Here in Raleigh, our local chocolatiers roast direct-sourced cacao beans with pride, transforming them into delicious confections. “We love that our customers enjoy our chocolate with their loved ones, friends or Galentine’s day gals,” says Sam Ratto, owner of Videri Chocolate Factory. “Though of course, we think chocolate is the perfect treat to celebrate the ones we love, any day of the year.” Located in the Warehouse District, Videri offers everything from their single-origin bars to bonbons in a spectrum of flavors, plus pairings with ice cream or coffee. You can tour its facility, too. (327 W. Davie Street; viderichocolatefactory.com) Escazú, which recently moved to a new location in Gateway Plaza, is a micro-batch chocolatier beloved for its ice cream and bars (we suggest the Single Origin Sheep’s Milk). But for Valentine’s Day, splurge on a box of beautiful, hand-decorated truffles that look — and taste — like tiny works of art. (2409 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 124; escazuchocolates.com) Available at various local markets and gift shops, Raleigh-based Spring & Mulberry uses dates to sweeten all its chocolate, and its bars are adorned with beautiful and flavorful accents like dried strawberries, flower petals and coconut. (Find retailers at springandmulberry.com).
Beyond indulging your sweet tooth this month, there is plenty of fun to be had, from cheering on a college basketball team to supporting local theater to racing in our city’s most glutinous charity run. Read on for your February to-do list.
Watch Some College Basketball!
We’re in the middle of college basketball season, which is especially exciting here in the Triangle where we have three major universities with ACC teams. This month offers several opportunities to see games between our local rivals. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill women’s team will play NC State in Raleigh at the William Neal Reynolds Coliseum on Feb. 2 at 6 p.m for the annual charity Play4Kay game. (From $121; 2411 Dunn Avenue; gopack.com) The UNC men’s team will be up against Duke University on Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Dean Dome. (From $700; 300 Skipper Bowles Drive, Chapel Hill; goheels.com) Then the UNC men’s team will play NC State in the Lenovo Center on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. It’s the only time you’ll see these two teams play each other this regular season — the first time in more than a century that the teams haven’t battled twice. (From $110; 1400 Edwards Mill Road; gopack.com)
See WORDS = POWER at the Gregg Museum of Art + Design
On view at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design on NC State’s campus is the exhibition WORDS = POWER. It features writings by North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green paired with visual works by both students and professional artists. Collectively, the exhibit explores how art can spark change in the world and encourage compassion and strength in communities. Join Green on Feb. 19 from 6 – 9 p.m. for a Q&A and artist talk to discuss the exhibition (registration required).
Feb. 1 – 28 | Various times; Free; 1903 Hillsborough Street; calendar.ncsu.edu
Take a Field Trip to Good Graces
North Carolina natives opened this restaurant in North Hills to serve as a home away from home offering Southern food with a lighter touch. Learn more about it here.
Take a Deep Dive into Whiskey at a class at Vitis House
Did you know that all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon? Vitis House food, wine and spirits expert Doreen Colondres is hosting a class centered on all things whiskey to explore just that. Learn how different parts of the world produce the spirit (from Scotland’s Scotch whisky to Japanese whiskey — spelling difference included) and sample rare, award-winning varieties. Colondres will pair the whiskeys with light bites, including a bourbon-marinated skirt steak served on naan with tzatziki and piquillo pepper sauce.
Feb 4. | 6:30 – 8 p.m.; $115; 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 115; vitishouse.com
See Built to Remember at Artspace
Lauren Selden, a Texas-based artist, has a visiting exhibition titled Built to Remember at Artspace this month showcasing two sculptural bodies of work, Returning Home and Invasive Species. Returning Home features miniature structures made of wax and metal that offer a glimpse into the places Selden has lived, including dormitories, rentals and public housing. Many of them sit atop thin pillars as a nod to rising sea levels. Invasive Species features small, curved, delicate flowers resting on larger bases. “Together, the houses and flowers create a landscape of memory and endurance. Through rising waters, institutional rooms and small blooms that refuse erasure, Built to Remember is a tender study of how our environments mark us, and what we build within ourselves to stay standing,” says Artspace artist programs manager Alexandra Jane.
Feb. 1 -22 | various times; Free to view; 201 E. Davie Street; artspacenc.org
Support a Good Cause at the Triangle Wine & Food Experience
Notable chefs from all over the country come together to host this multi-day foodie event to benefit the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. It includes special wine dinners at local restaurants, private meals featuring big-name chefs and, to cap it all off, an evening with tastings and a live auction. Feb. 5-7 | Various times; From $500; various locations; frankielemmonfoundation.org
See Carolina Ballet’s Carmen Suite
In the late 1960s, choreographer Alberto Julio Rayneri Alonso was commissioned by Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya to create a ballet inspired by the title character in Georges Bizet’s famous opera Carmen. The sensuous Carmen Suite, set to music arranged by Plisetskaya’s composer husband, Rodion Shchedrin, was censored at the time for its erotic dancing and immodest costumes. This month, Carolina Ballet will debut its interpretation of this storied work paired with Book of Esther, a ballet inspired by the exhibition of the same name at the North Carolina Museum of Art. “In this bold world premiere, resident choreographer Amy Hall Garner reimagines Carmen Suite with powerful theatricality and a fresh choreographic voice set to Bizet’s iconic score, alongside Zalman Raffael’s Book of Esther — expect a compelling program that explores courage, agency and identity,” says Joshua Dwight with Carolina Ballet.
Feb. 5 – 22; From $55; 2 E. South Street; carolinaballet.com
Watch Season 2 of Shaped by Sound on PBS North Carolina
Ahead of PBS North Carolina’s music-centered show Shaped by Sound, we caught up with its producer James Mieczkowski to hear what’s the same, what’s different and the shows importance. Watch the premier episode February 5.
See Raleigh Little Theatre’s Moonlight and Magnolias
This historical fiction play at Raleigh Little Theatre imagines the story of how Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind was adapted for cinema. Set in late-1930s Hollywood, the story follows producer David O. Selznick, screenwriter Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming, who shut themselves off from society for five days to produce the screenplay. The film, which starred Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable, went on to win eight Oscars — but also has been criticized for its depictions of slavery and the antebellum South.
Feb. 6 – 22 | Various times; From $33; 301 Pogue Street; raleighlittletheatre.org
Spectate or Participate in the Krispy Kreme Challenge
On your marks, get set, go … and then after you run your fastest 2.5 miles, eat a dozen doughnuts and do it again. That’s the rubric for the Krispy Kreme Challenge, a quirky North Carolina State University tradition that’s a long-running fundraiser for UNC Children’s Hospital. A challenge in cardiovascular and digestive stamina, the race starts and ends at the Memorial Belltower with a midpoint pause at the Krispy Kreme on N. Person Street. For folks not wanting to eat all that sugar and carbs — The Challenger race category — there are other ways to participate. Sign up as a Casual participant and eat as many or as few doughnuts as you wish, or opt for the No Doughnut category to just run. For spectators, it offers some fun people-watching, as participants are often in costume. (But you may want to avoid the turnaround, where the gorging-and-running combo can sometimes have unappealing consequences).
$49; 2011 Hillsborough Street; krispykremechallenge.com
Celebrate in Style at the Mardi Gras Masquerade Prom for Adults
New Orleans isn’t the only place with some pomp and circumstance this time of year! The City of Raleigh is bringing a touch of Mardi Gras to the over-21 crowd with a fun Masquerade Prom at Dorothea Dix Park. Enjoy festive cocktails at the cash bar, live music and a DJ. Wear your most elaborate mask and eveningwear and gather your friends to party like you’re in the French Quarter.
Feb. 7 | 8 – 11 p.m.; $40; 1030 Richardson Drive; raleighnc.gov
Take time to read, The Book of Alice
Award-winning Raleigh-based poet and North Carolina State University professor Diamond Forde’s latest book, The Book of Alice, takes readers on a deep, honest dive into her family’s history. It’s written largely through the lens of her grandmother, Alice, exploring what her life was like as a Black mother and Black woman during the Jim Crow South. Learn about Forde and some of the backstories of the book here.
Have a Self-Care Sunday with Yoga at Dix Park
Having a hard time staying motivated on those self-care New Year’s resolutions? Local yoga instructor Carrington Jackson is hosting this gentle flow session inside Dix Park’s Greg Poole, Jr. All Faiths Chapel. Blending stillness, breath and light movement, the vinyasa-based class is a great way to center your body and mind in a peaceful, welcoming environment. This class is open to all fitness levels and yogis as young as 12 years old. Don’t forget your mat and water bottle.
Feb. 8 | 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.; Free but registration required; 1030 Richardson Drive; dixpark.org
See The Sarafinas, My Way at Theatre Raleigh
The Sarafinas is an elite dance performance company hailing from New York City that’s led by two former Radio City Rockettes. For The Sarafinas, My Way, they’ll be joined at Theatre Raleigh by Broadway vet and Dancing with the Stars alum Amanda Kloots, as well as vocalist Dominic Scaglione, Jr., for a glamorous, jazzy show. The performance will feature captivating precision dance moves and mesmerizing vocals to the songs of some of America’s most iconic crooners.
Feb. 12 – 15 | 7:30 p.m.; From $80; 6638 Old Wake Forest Road; theatreraleigh.com
Enjoy a Valentine’s Day-Themed Dinner at NCMA
Catering Works, the company responsible for the North Carolina Museum of Art’s varied cuisine options, has parntered with Chamber Music Raleigh to put together a romance-themed four-course dinner for Valentine’s Day. For each course, guests will get to choose between multiple dishes with inventive names. Among them: the Perfect Liaison (shaved Iberico ham, fruit and house-made ricotta on crostini), the Blush (grilled sourdough topped with a gruyere-and-champagne fondue and sour cherries) and the Forbidden Flight (roasted duck breast with a honey-rhubarb glaze over forbidden rice). The evening will feature live music from the Cleveland Celtic Ensemble.
Feb. 14 | 6:30 – 9 p.m.; $200; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncartmuseum.org
Catch the Valentine’s Day Themed Carolina Skies Show at Morehead Planetarium
Cosmic legends of love and romance take center stage at the Morehead Planetarium this Valentine’s Day. The planetarium is offering a special Valentine edition of its classic Carolina Skies show, exploring the love stories ancient cultures wove into constellations and other celestial sights — and what those myths reveal about love today. This special program features two evening showtimes; tickets typically sell out.
Feb. 14 | 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.; from $15.95; 250 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill; moreheadplanetarium.org
Hear Love Songs of Lennon & McCartney at The Rialto
The North Carolina Master Chorale has a love-ly show planned at The Rialto Theater in honor of Valentine’s Day. Hear romantic tunes from the canon of legends John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the songwriters for The Beatles, like McCartney’s “Yesterday” and Lennon’s “All You Need Is Love.”
Feb. 15 | 3 p.m.; From $18; 1620 Glenwood Avenue; ncmasterchorale.org
Plan a Unique Valentine’s Day (if you aren’t sold on the above ideas!)
A fancy dinner, box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers are all great come Feb.14 — but if you’ve “been there, done that,” there are plenty of other ways to celebrate love this month. How about seeing an uncensored version of a classic ballet? Solving a murder mystery? Making art together? We’ve gathered 10 unexpected ideas to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year to get you inspired.
Amp up the Romance at One of these Bars or Restaurants
What makes a night out together romantic? Great conversation, a sense of closeness you get when you truly connect, maybe some flattering lighting and seating that invites you to scoot closer. Bonus points for excellent service, an ambiance that gives you excuse to dress up and ingredients on the menu that are known aphrodisiacs (see: oysters, chocolate, chili peppers). In honor of Valentine’s Day (or anytime you want to stir up some romance), we rounded up 20 of our favorite places that hit the spot. Whether you’re long coupled-up and want to reignite the spark — or just flirting with the idea of someone new — these sexy bars and restaurants will get you in the mood.
Garden for Love & Longevity
This month, assess your yard with an eye towards making it easy to care for in the coming years writes Helen Yoest in February’s garden column. That means swapping in low-maintenance shrubs, ground covers and no-fuss ephemerals.
See Wilmington-born The Runarounds at The Ritz
The Runarounds are a Wilmington-based band that was cast in season 3 of Outer Banks. Almost overnight, the jam band became a sensation — even landing its own TV show, a fictionalized account of its journey chasing success on a nearly sold-out tour. The Runarounds are playing (for real) at The Ritz this month and while the show is sold out, go ahead and add your name to the waitlist or check resale apps to experience this Eastern North Carolina sensation in its glory.
Feb. 21 | 7 p.m.; From $140; 2820 Industrial Drive; ritzraleigh.com
Enjoy Stargazing at The Willard
Did you know February’s a great month for stargazing? Stars (including constellations like Gemini and Orion) and planets (like Mars and Jupiter) are brighter against a darker winter sky. The Raleigh Astronomy Club is setting up its telescopes at The Willard Rooftop Lounge downtown for a free galaxy-viewing session, with club members on hand to help explain and identify noteworthy sights. Make the night even better by purchasing one of The Willard’s cosmic-inspired cocktails like the Supernova (a mezcal-based drink with toasted coconut, Tajin, triple sec and lime) or the Saturn (which features Drumshanbo Sardinian Citrus, lemon, orgeat, passion fruit and angostura bitters).
Feb. 25 | 7 – 9 p.m.; Free; 9 Glenwood Avenue; thewillardraleigh.com
Listen to Paul McDonald & The Morning Doves
American Idol alum Paul McDonald is bringing his band The Mourning Doves to Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro to offer the folk rocker’s perfect blend of raspy vocals and electrifying instrumentals. While McDonald is known for high-energy performances, his latest album, So Long to the Dark Side, offers lower-fi tunes and themes of growth and healing. Opening for McDonald is country artist Noah Daniel’s new band, West King Street. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Feb. 27 | 8 p.m. From $17; 300 E. Main Street, Carrboro; catscradle.com
This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of WALTER magazine.
