22 Triangle events to check out this week

RALEIGH, N.C. — With the holidays quickly approaching, there is even more to do in the Triangle. Enjoy this list of holiday musicals, elegant feasts, local shows and comedy, shopping markets and more.

The Fairview Dining Room at the Washington Duke Inn will host a Holiday Tea featuring finger sandwiches, homemade scones and handcrafted sweets. The event starts at 2:30 p.m.

A delicious Fall Harvest Dinner at Mandolin will benefit the Inter-Faith Family Food Shuttle at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Guests can enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a family-style seated dinner featuring farm-fresh dishes.

Working out doesn't have to be lonely, and it can even involve beer. The nOg Run Club meets weekly at the Raleigh Beer Garden at 6:15 p.m.

The Pinhook in Durham is starting a new kind of open mic night called That's the Joint! The bar will take their traditional Monday night event to a whole new level with comedy, live music, MCs, producers and a talent showcase. It all starts at 7 p.m.

Bundle up and walk through an illuminated wonderland at Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. The NC Chinese Lantern Festival is open Tuesday-Sunday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Jan. 15.

Today is "Giving Tuesday," and, to celebrate, Trophy Brewing on Maywood will host the third-annual Hops for Hope event from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Guests will receive a ticket good for a drink and one raffle submission, and proceeds will be donated to Curamericas Global.

Whatever happened to your high school queen? Find out in the PlayMarkers Repertory Company's production of The May Queen, a mixed up mash-up about what happens when an unexpected high school reunion meets the hilarity of "The Office." Tickets are $15.

A don't-miss-it holiday classic for the whole family, How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical, opens tonight at DPAC. Shows run through Dec. 4.

Three Phantoms in Concert is a two-hour concert featuring music from popular Broadway shows, including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and more. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, 100 percent of ticket sales will be donated to recovery efforts to rebuild homes in North Carolina. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Piedmont Restaurant in Durham will host an NC Oysters & Bubbles Dinner at 6:30 p.m. The multi-course feast showcases the diversity and seasonality of fish and shellfish from our coast, highlighting North Carolina’s seafood in all four seasons. Each course will be paired with sparkling wines from different regions. Tickets are $95.

Join the shops and studios at The Carter Building for a Holiday Gift Shopping Market. The market features art, jewelry, cosmetics, vinyl records, skin care, nail art, vintage clothing and more. The market is open from 4-7 p.m. every Wednesday through Dec. 31.

The Ice Raleigh Outdoor Skating Rink is open daily in City Plaza through January. Admission is just $10, and that includes skates, so you can visit many times.

It's Late Night at The Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, which means free admission from 5 to 9 p.m. Talk about a great date night.

Wednesday is the "light" version of open mic night at Deep South in downtown Raleigh. Open Mic Light features acoustic performers, duos, spoken word, comedy, pianists and more. Doors open at 7 p.m., and performances start at 8.

Join WRAL chief meteorologist Greg Fishel for a discussion called Life on Land: Today and in the Future at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The series is designed to provide in-depth discussions with leaders from around the globe as they explore the major scientific and environmental issues of our time. All guests are invited to attend a coffee and dessert reception following the program. The event is free.

Paula Poundstone was part of the talented cast in Pixar’s "Inside Out" and is a regular on NPR's number one show "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me." The stand-up comedian will perform at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m.

Triangle Family Services' Gingerbread Benefit celebrates the culinary masters in our community. A full day of events includes a gingerbread house sneak preview, a children's tea with Santa and an evening gala for adults. Ticket prices vary for each event. It all starts at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center in Durham at 11:30 a.m.

Tonight is opening night for the Cary Players as they present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Cary Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Shows will continue until Dec. 5.

Cinderella opens tonight at Raleigh Little Theatre with just the right mixture of comedy and romance for your holiday season. This is the best night to see the musical, because, in partnership with WRAL's Coats for the Children program, $10 of every ticket goes to provide warm, winter clothing for Salvation Army families in need. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets start at $28. Shows continue through mid-December.

The Molly Ringwalds create an 80's experience by honing their abilities to apply make-up and tease their hair while showcasing music of the decade. See them at The Ritz at 8 p.m.

Live music, snow and visits with Santa are all part of the tradition at the American Tobacco Tower Lighting in Durham. The fun starts at 6 p.m.

The beloved television classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The show starts at 6:30 p.m., and additional shows will continue through Christmas Eve.