So you're coming to downtown Raleigh for Hopscotch...now what?

Lace up your tennis shoes, because Hopscotch is here!  (http://www.hopscotchmusicfest.com/)

One of the year's most fun weekends, every year in early September downtown Raleigh transforms from a fun and eclectic mix of nightlife activities, to one beating heart that pumps thousands of attendees in and out of venues, bars, restaurants, retail stores...you name it.

I was reading an article on WRAL and one quote/paragraph stuck out for me:

"Fests like Coachella, Electric Zoo, Lollapalooza, and Pitchfork essentially pen concertgoers in, effectively limiting their experience within strictly defined points. You eat and drink from approved vendors. The bands you see are forced on you at a single-stage fest, or you play roulette between a handful of side stages. Some are worse about that than others, of course. I came to Hopscotch last year having never been to Raleigh before, and I loved the multi-venue set-up. It allowed me to explore the city in ways I'd otherwise have been unable or dissuaded from doing at another fest," Suarez said.

With my Hopscotch-only blinders on, I was dumbfounded by just how lucky we are to have a festival that doesn't charge you $10 bottled water.

The quote also got me thinking, "What if this was my first time to Hopscotch, or even to Raleigh?"

So without further ado, here are my tips, places to stop at, etc. while at Hopscotch Music Festival:

1. Not joking about the tennis shoes thing. I know we all want to look cool with a twinge of hipster to it, but wear shoes that won't beat your feet up. You probably walk/run a good 2-3 miles a night at Hopscotch, as you "hop" from venue to venue. Running from the Warehouse District to Lincoln Theater to not miss a band you love, is not an uncommon site. Hopscotch newbies wear pretty shoes that leave blisters. No one wants to be newbie.
2. Eat well before hand. In between the afternoon day parties and the first wave of acts at 8/9 pm is when you want to load up on calories. Based on where you're at, here are some good places I'd recommend before a night of drinking (I mean, we all love Sitti, but do you really want that before pounding beers, running, jamming out to a kickass band, and sweating profusely? Yeah me neither.)
3. Raleigh Times is the ideal spot for a meal if your first set is at Slim's, the Hive, Tir na Nog, Pour House, or even Kings. Their fare is consistently ranked one the best by many a publication. They have the capacity that Capital 16 lacks, and honestly just great food.
4. The Pit if you're starting at CAM or Deep South. If it's good enough for frequent appearances on Food Network, it'll be just fine for you. 
5. Beasley's Chicken + Honey is the best spot for Lincoln Theater, City Plaza, or the two venues inside the Performing Arts Center (Kennedy and Fletcher). Fried green tomatoes, honey, mixed with Ashley Christensen's biscuits and chicken = wow. Throw in a glass of Fullsteam and you're set. People will argue for Chuck's (also a Christensen joint) next door, but I prefer the uniqueness that is Beasley's.
6. If you're tired of hoofing it, bike taxis are the way to go. Larry's Beans normally offers a free ride around downtown, but you probably just won't want to wait for it.
7. If the night starts turning against you and late night food is needed, Do Not Pass GO and head straight to the Mecca. As old as the Great Depression, the place has a quality late night menu, beers on the cheap, and normally a great crowd of late-night patrons.
8. Stick to the plan! Print out a schedule, mark the bands you have to see, the bands you want to see, and some acts that will broaden your horizon. I normally spend two days on Hopscotch's Website listening to every single band that's playing the event, then marking the ones I'm interested in on my schedule. Then compare with your buddies. Speaking of which.... 
9. Consider your Hopscotch group. Is there someone who always "has" to finish their beer, or takes 15 minutes "saying goodbye?" That person is dead to me during Hopscotch. Once the set is over you need to book it to the next one. Greatness awaits out there, so consider a calisthenics exam or something for your group of festival-goers.
10. Late, LATE night parties do exist at Hopscotch. Play it cool hombre...and listen to the buzz of the crowd. Someone will spill the beans and sometime around 2:30 am you'll enjoy even higher quality face melt time.

That's it kiddos! Get ready for an amazing weekend that will leave you following many a new band for years to come, and laughing with your friends on all the silly stuff you did for even longer.

I'll be working a shift or two over at CAM for Lenovo's set up. We have these charging stations that charge your phone no matter what type you have. Probably should have been tip #11, keep your phone charged to the max, but meh. Feel free to say hi!