WRAL At Home Coverage

Metropolitan Opera: Free Puccini operas streaming every night Sept. 21-27
The Metropolitan Opera is streaming free encore opera performances every night during the pandemic. Read on for the performance schedule this week which they are calling, "Puccini Week."

Chapel Hill library's popular book sale now virtual
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down Chapel Hill Public Library's popular book sale, but now it's gone virtual.

Recipe: You don't need an ice cream machine to make this ice cream
You just need a handful of ingredients for this homemade ice cream.

Weekend best bets: BugFest, drive-in movies
We have a roundup of in-person and virtual fun this weekend.

Virtual Fun Roundup: Storytimes, science experiments and a look at spinning tops and hellbenders
Get inspired and learn a little something in these family-friendly videos from museums and destinations across North Carolina.

Rootle Block Party: UNC-TV plans hour-long special for kids
At the NC State Fair each year and elsewhere across North Carolina, Rootle, UNC-TV's PBS Kids Channel, host family-friendly block parties that feature some of its most popular characters.

N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences' BugFest is going on right now; here are 7 ways to engage
BugFest, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences' annual celebration of bugs that draws thousands to downtown Raleigh each year, has gone virtual this year.

DPAC to host virtual show featuring popular magician Justin Willman
Live stage performances might not be possible right now, but Durham Performing Arts Center has lined up another show for all ages that can be watched from the comfort of home.

Kidzu Children's Museum hopes to recoup lost revenue, introduce more families to its work through virtual benefit
Kidzu Children's Museum closed its doors on March 14 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact has been enormous.

STEMIEfest offers free virtual STEM programs for young children with disabilities this week
The STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Center, or STEMIE, at UNC-Chapel Hill is hosting a series of virtual programs this week for kids with and disabilities and the adults who live and work with them.

Wake County expands its Books on the Go library service to seven days a week
Wake County Public Libraries just made it easier to check out books from the library.

Recipe: Mini meatloaf with brown sugar ketchup glaze from Raleigh's Chef Mario's
Chef Mario's, which offers up a homeschool lunch menu for busy families, shares their recipe for one of their popular creations.

Weekend best bets: New patio, picnic pop-up and virtual art market
We have some suggestions for fun this weekend, including a new patio in Durham to check out.

Virtual Fun Roundup: Sing a weather sing along, help little ones understand importance of hand-washing, more
Get inspired and learn a little something in these family-friendly videos from museums and destinations across North Carolina.

For virtual school families, this local chef couple brings the lunch line home
Holly Hopkins and Chef Mario Huante are Raleigh locals who own Chef Mario's, a locally-owned personal chef meal delivery service and catering company. After being married for a little over a year and in business together for five years, the pandemic has thrown their business a curve ball that they've caught and run with.

Durham food delivery service helps restaurants reach more customers
Durham Delivers matches local restaurants with communities for bulk deliveries.

Cook like the Pros: Wye Hill's Charred Broccoli
This week, Wye Hill shows us how to make their Charred Broccoli and whipped tahini.

VCA spotlight: NCMA park sees boom in visitors during pandemic
During the pandemic, the North Carolina Art Museum has seen a boom in visitors. Valerie Hillings, director of the NCMA, said that there has been a 65% increase in visitors from this time last year.

Metropolitan Opera streaming free operas every night Sept. 7-13
The Metropolitan Opera is streaming free encore opera performances every night during the pandemic. Read on for the performance schedule this week which they are calling, "French Week."