What Everyone Has Been Saying...

Not too much time to blog today as I'm getting ready to leave the lovely NC Coast for a fellow Pi Phi Alumna, Ginny Pollock's, wedding in Kinston & Goldsboro, but I wanted to share this information from the weekly City of Raleigh eNewsgram. It's about developing Hillsborough Street to reclaim it's missing glory of what it once was as a great place to do business and interact with others.

This is a must-read for those interested in the Hillsborough Street area and NCSU in general. I encourage everyone to keep their eyes on this area and do what you can to visit and shop with the businesses already there [Red Hot & Blue, East Village Bar & Grill, Tough Love boutique (website still under development... I'll post her MySpace link when I get back to Raleigh), and LocoPops are some of my favorites]!

"CITY EXPLORES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR HILLSBOROUGH STREET

Working with neighborhood residents, business owners and other property owners, the City of Raleigh is studying the establishment of a business improvement district (BID) along Hillsborough Street. The BID would help revitalize areas along Hillsborough Street.
This week, the City sent notices to property and business owners in the proposed BID, as required by state law. The notices contain basic information about BIDs, including answers to frequently asked questions about BIDs, an explanation of the BID process, and the boundary area for the proposed Hillsborough Street BID. The Hillsborough Street BID would run east-to-west along Hillsborough Street from St. Mary’s School to Meredith College. The BID’s southern boundary would follow the railroad right-of-way that crosses the N.C. State University campus. The northern boundary is generally areas one block north of Hillsborough Street. The proposed BID contains 121 acres of land and more than 2.5 million square feet of built space. BIDs are a funding mechanism used to provide revenue for a variety of services that enhance existing municipal services in the business improvement district. Additional revenue collected from special assessments on property owners in a BID are used for maintenance, business recruitment, advocacy, management, marketing, security and other services.

The City of Raleigh currently has a BID in the downtown area. The special assessments levied on property owners in the downtown BID are used to pay for additional cleaning and safety patrol services, and for downtown economic development, marketing and advocacy programs administered by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

Leading the City’s Hillsborough Street BID Formation Study is a volunteer steering committee which consists of Hillsborough Street property owners and others with an interest in the area. The City hired Downtown Professionals Network to manage the study. Additionally, the Hillsborough Street Partnership, founded in 2000, brings together representatives from the City, N.C. State, the business community and residents in surrounding neighborhoods to develop a vision for revitalizing the Hillsborough Street area. More than $30 million in private and public investment are planned for the area.

When it completes its study, the Hillsborough Street BID Formation Study Steering Committee will forward a report to the City Council for its consideration. Before any final action is taken, a public hearing will be held on the proposed BID. The City plans to send a second notice to property and business owners in the proposed BID that will include information about the public hearing, the proposed assessment rate for the BID and proposed services that would be provided in the BID.

For more information about the BID study, visit http://www.hillsboroughbid.com/ or contact Kristopher Larson with the City of Raleigh Department of City Planning, 807-5220."Almost forgot: Check out www.hillsboroughstreet.org for information on the Hillsborough Street Partnership!

Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head...

...well, not so much. But it's getting better!

If you're a DIY'er and would like to keep some of the rain drops around for gardening... or whatever else, check out this info from the City of Raleigh. These are some of the best prices I've seen for rain barrel workshops! (I think I've seen something in the $25 range posted at Whole Foods on Wade Avenue... but I just can't be sure).

Have fun!

Make Every Drop Count!
Raleigh Parks and Recreation
Rain Barrel Workshops

In these “how to” workshops, participants will construct their very own blue style rain barrel to take home with them. Your rain barrel will come complete with a screen, overflow hose, faucet, and gutter downspout for just $25! Use your new barrel to keep your landscaping green & growing.

Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Jaycee Community Center
Date: Friday, May 16, 2008
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Lake Lynn Community Center
Date: Wednesday, May 21
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Durant Nature Park Training Lodge

Date: Wednesday, June 11
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Lake Johnson’s Magnolia Cottage
Date: Tuesday, July 8
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Top Green Neighborhood Center
(10-15 years old youth are fine while assisting an adult)

To Register:
• Mail-in Registration form to:
Raleigh Parks and Recreation
2401 Wade Ave. Raleigh, NC 27607
• Online at parks.raleighnc.gov

Questions? Please call Durant Nature Park at 870-2871 for details.
Parks.raleighnc.gov
919.831.6640

A Waste Reduction Specialist who emailed me also included additional information (she was on top of it!):
What was left off the flyer is that the rain barrels are 55 gallons. When you go to the web page listed, click on the RECLINK logo in the upper left corner and enter bar code 72046. If you have other questions you can contact Cara (see below) directly:
Cara Doyle McLeod
Marketing Coordinator

Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department
222 West Hargett Street, Suite 608
P.O. Box 590
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602

Phone: (919) 890-3659
Fax: (919) 890-3299

cara.mcleod@ci.raleigh.nc.us
http://www.parks.raleighnc.gov/

Team Up With Jimmy V

Sign up online at http://www.jimmyv.org/showspirit/ to participate! (Check out the pictures online of US Senators and more sporting their team colors!)

We Spend Our Summers at the Creek...

As country as it sounds, I'm actually referring to the endless tailgate and outdoor concerts at Walnut Creek (now renamed something ridiculously long having to do with Time Warner Cable... who I hate, so I won't bother looking it up). Summertime at the Creek... it's a beautiful thing.

Here's the line-up as it currently sits (with the shows I'll be at in italics and the shows included on the 94.7 WQDR Mega-Ticket in blue). By the way, Mega-Ticket... is the way to go :-)

April
Friday, 4/25/08 Widespread Panic
Saturday, 4/26/08 Widespread Panic

May
Saturday, 5/3/08 Jake Owen (*This was just announced on GoGoRaleigh.com on 3/10/08 so not sure if it'll be part of the Mega-Ticket or not. In years past, any new shows added -think: Kenny Chesney #2 - Mega-Ticket folks got a week extra to buy advanced tickets for the new show... so we'll see.*)
Friday, 5/9/08 Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour co-starring Rihanna, N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco
Saturday, 5/17/08 Tim McGraw with special guests Jason Aldean and Halfway to Hazard
Wednesday, 5/28/08 James Taylor

June
Saturday, 6/21/08 Toby Keith with Montgomery Gentry
July
Wednesday, 7/2/08 Dave Matthews Band with Michael Franti & Spearhead
Saturday, 7/12/08 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with special guest Steve Winwood
Saturday, 7/19/08 Brad Paisley with special guest

August
Saturday, 8/2/08 Rascal Flatts with Taylor Swift
Tuesday, 8/12/08 Jack Johnson with special guests Rogue Wave and Neil Halstead
Friday, 8/22/08 Kenny Chesney with LeAnn Rimes

Septepmber
Saturday, 9/6/08 Brooks & Dunn with Rodney Atkins

October
Saturday, 10/4/08 Martina McBride with special guest

JMC Returns to Raleighwood

Word around town from my excellent country music source (Bryan Bloodworth, by way of Mrs. Coppedge) is that everyone who ever has been or who ever plans to be a Jason Michael Carroll fan needs to go ahead and mark May 2nd, 2008 on the calendar.

No details yet, but you can be sure to find them here when I hear more!

I'm not sure which of his official site and Myspace is the source that gets updated more often, so here's his MySpace link just in case: http://www.myspace.com/jasonmichaelcarroll.

Side note: I absolutely love the fact that a quick google of "Jason Michael Carroll" produces the top 3 images of him and the fact that the third of which is him and Raleigh's dearly missed Brittany Coppedge.

Car Show + "Take Me Home Tonight" + Phil Vassar

Sooooo excited!

Once again, Ashton's daily email updates on going-ons and happenings in R-town has brought more great stuff to my attention!

I will definitely stretch the departure for Bristol, TN Saturday evening as long as possible to try and take in a quick Phil Vassar show!

(And the reason this post title included "Take Me Home Tonight" instead of Eddie Money - is because I'm sure like everyone else in my generation, those four words create an instant tune in one's head!)

From News 14
http://news14.com/content/special_edition/auto_expo/Default.aspx



North Carolina International Auto Expo
March 13th-16th, 2008
The Jim Graham Building
NC State Fairgrounds
Raleigh, NC

Show Hours:
• Thursday: Noon to 9pm
• Friday: 10am to 9pm
• Saturday: 9am to 9pm
• Sunday: 10am to 5pm

Tickets:
Adults 13 to 60: $8
Over 60: $5
Preteens 6 - 12: $4
Under 6: Free!

Tickets will be available at Box Office kiosks located outside of the Jim Graham Building during the show.

Special Guests:
• Eddie Money - March 14th from 7:30 pm - 9 pm (Dorton Arena)
• Phil Vassar - March 15th from 7:30 pm - 9 pm (Dorton Arena)

Each expo ticket you purchase is valid for one seat at the concert on the same day.

Lots More Coming to Cameron Village!

I am guilty of being a Cameron Village junkie. I admit it. I'd much rather dash over there and spend an afternoon shopping and enjoying good food and drinks than wander aimlessly around a mall ANY DAY.

So... I'm sure it comes as no surprise that while I'm disappointed to see The Grape go, I'm very excited to help spread the gospel of growth otherwise (thanks for the link Ashton!):

from Design Trumps Retail
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/nc/stock/story/975360.html

"In Raleigh's Cameron Village, The Grape wine shop and tapas bar closed. There's no word yet on what will happen to the space. ... Also, White House Black Market, The Cameron Bar & Grill and New Palm Avenue will all open in about three weeks."