Garner Ups Its Game

You'd think a small town like Garner would really embrace the local indy business movement, but the busiest places on the weekend are almost always chain concepts - that's why i'm really excited to share a few new places that are earning my local dollars.

Zin Yoga Studio & Wine Lounge
This business isn't as new as the following two (maybe around for a year or so, already?), but what Kara is doing here is pretty innovative. Yoga + wine = in one place. Get your yoga on at this Aversboro Square studio and then after class, enjoy samples of wine, indulge in a glasses, or take a few bottles of wine home to enjoy. Occasionally, Kara has even turned the studio into a pop-up dinner venue with featuring the culinary talents of Chef Joe from Backyard Bistro and the wine knowledge of Cory Sloan from Tryon Distributing. I've taken several yoga classes here with both Kara and Mary and have enjoyed all of them. And I love the variety of days and times that they offer classes. Sunday afternoon zen session? Yes, please!

And yes, of course, I've also sampled the wine and thoroughly enjoyed that too. :-) Check out the class and event schedule schedule online at http://zinyogawine.com/. Namaste, y'all.


The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop
Just down the street from Zin is The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner's first (and currently only) craft beer indy retailer! (Kroger grocery store doesn't count, kids.) Gal pal Adrianne and I popped in last Sunday after yoga to check this spot out. It had just opened that week, so they were still getting a lot of things worked out - like the right inspections and permits to be able to serve flights and ciders. All good things to look forward to as this new business grows. In the meantime, grab some friends, family and neighbors and taste your way through their draft menu - which is fun to do 5 ounces at a time... a unique offering I haven't seen before in this area. Read up on what's available at thebeerdedlady.com and then visit them in the 5th Avenue shopping center.



Click here for more pictures! (Note I have GOT to move this blog over to WordPress so I can create a nice gallery for these things!)

Krafty's Burgers & Brews
Also just opening last week is Krafty's Burgers & Brews in Garner's White Oak shopping center, next to the movie theater (where Shuck 'Em Shack used to be). Johnnie Bud and I stopped in last week at the friends and family event to wish owner Robert Stapleton well in the new venture. Keen observers might notice the bar is a carry over from Robert's original Napper Tandy's in downtown Raleigh that was located in Powerhouse Square. (Napper's has since moved to Glenwood Avenue, but Robert kept one of the bars and re-used it here.)

We were on a tight schedule when visiting and didn't get a chance to try any food from the menu, but are looking forward to getting back for a visit soon. There are actually quite a few vegetarian-friendly items for me, including a "build-a-burger" option that has a veggie burger base choice! No website yet, but check out updates from their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Kraftysburgersandbrews.



Click here for more pictures from Krafty's!

Are there any other new, locally-owned businesses in Garner that I need to check out next weekend? Let me know in the comments below!

Yoga + Wine... IN GARNER!

Yes, you read that wonderful combination right and I'm just as surprised as you are to find out it's only a few miles from my house.

I checked out a warm yoga class a few Saturday mornings ago at Zin Yoga Wine and I can't wait to get back in the studio soon. I hate to already be booked on Saturday and not making this great event, but it doesn't mean I can't share the details with you local readers...



Vino and Vinyasa Saturday, January 31st: 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Yoga with friends, wine and chocolate will sure to make a memorable night out. The night will start with a long gentle practice and end with a glass of wine, delicious tapas, and Togomay truffles and gluten-free cookies. This is the true experience of Zin Yoga Studio and Wine Lounge.

$35/person. Must Preregister by Thursday 29th.
www.zinyogawine.com (events tab to register)
zinyogawine@gmail.com
919-917-7500

Namaste, y'all. :-)

Right On, Idols!

via WRAL.com:

"It's tough for us because we're both from small towns from nowhere around L.A. We just try to stay true to ourselves, stay in our boots – that's what I like to tell myself – and stay grounded," McCreery said.

Ok, I know, two American Idol posts in a row. But seriously, how can you not love that quote?

Stay in those boots, Scotty and Lauren!

Scotty Fever Hits the Triangle!

So excited for our hometown boy!

(And no, I'm not usually an American Idol nut, but Scotty deserves all the support he can get!)

The Hushpuppies are a Big Deal

I almost laughed out loud when I read this line from George Cox's review of Garner's (somewhat new) Shuck 'Em Shack:

Hushpuppies are not bad for a commercial product, though the Southerner in me cringes at paying $1.99 for a dozen.

I can remember going to Dockside at some point in college, one of the best locations in Wilmington for a great coastal view - paired with a bite to eat and a tasty drink. only to find out at that point they had decided to not offer hushpuppies at all. (Something about space for the fryer or it being the off-season... clearly I was in no mind for any excuses.) Everyone at our table heavily considered just leaving before ordering anything. What's a Po' Boy sandwich with a no hushpuppies? (The answer: not much.)

Same situation with the ill-fated Sunny Side Too, which also called Garner home. (I can name more than a handful of reasons this local restaurant didn't last, sadly. But I won't.)

My point is this: in Carolina, and much of the South, hushpuppies are expected. And we more often than not expect them to be yummy and a complimentary part of the Southern seafood meal.

You can read Greg's entire report on the Shuck 'Em Shack online at http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/01/14/917251/where-you-can-shuck-to-your-hearts.html.

Music on Main Tonight!

Jim Quick and the Coastline Band are in Downtown Garner tonight!

(If the insanity and strollers at North Hills aren't your thing, you can still enjoy live beach music on a Thursday just a few minutes outside of Raleighwood.)

The Garner Revitalization Association
presents the 2010 Music on Main After Work Concert Series

Join us on Main Street in Downtown Garner for Live Music, Great Food and Lots of Fun!

6PM – 9PM

Bring your chairs. No coolers, please.

May 27th – Brickhouse
June 10th – Coastline
July 8th – The Fantastic Shakers
August 12th – Spare Change
September 9th – Craig Woolard

more info: http://www.downtowngarner.com/musiconmainstreet.htm
facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Downtown-Garner/135200129404
facebook event listing: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123826920971747&ref=mf

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

...but I still don't turn on the holiday music until closer to Christmas, though ;-)

There is a lot of small town and big city stuff to do this weekend - all starting today. I wish they didn't all fall on the same day/time though, because I want to do it all, of course!

TONIGHT - Friday, December 4th

Downtown Garner - Tree Lighting

The Parks and Recreation Department will host its annual tree lighting ceremony on Main Street Friday, Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This year, the department has expanded the traditional ceremony to include even more entertainment, activities and food, including Dance Explosion, Poplar Springs Church choir, the Garner Senior Center Dancers and carolers from True North Church. A highlight of the evening will be the reading of the classic poem, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Activities for the kids will begin at 6 p.m. inside Santa’s workshop, which is located inside the Sunny Side II Oyster Bar building. Children will get to make holiday crafts and meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

During this event, Main Street will be closed to through traffic between Emory and Purvis Streets. Plenty of public parking is available along parts of Main Street, in the Garner Baseball parking lot, along Pearl Street and at the Pearl Street Building, at Garner Recreational Park and the Garner Senior Center.

Downtown Raleigh - Winterfest Kickoff

Michelle Branch (one of my favorites), will be performing at 6pm and ice skating in our very own outdoor ice skating rink starts right after. Plus, it's First Friday - yay!



Thanks for the video, Tyler! (Click through if you can't see it, blog readers!)

Tomorrow - Saturday, December 5th

Garner Christmas Parade

The holiday celebrations continue Saturday, Dec. 5 with the Garner Christmas Parade, which will begin at 10 a.m.

This year’s parade theme is “Inside Santa’s Workshop.” Tisha Powell, of ABC 11 News, will serve as the parade’s grand marshal. More than 70 participants will take part in the parade and will include area marching bands, floats, emergency vehicles, local merchants and Santa Claus.

This year, the parade will follow a slightly different parade route than that of before. It will begin on Broughton Street and will travel across Garner Road, down Hwy 50 to the corner of Main Street, where it will turn left and proceed until its ends at New Rand Road. This route is somewhat shorter but should allow easier access to and from the area to those viewing the parade.
Garner news and event details are from my friends at GarnerCitizen.com - a great, local paper!

More Beach Music - With Better Parking

I always get a little confused when I hear people complain about Raleigh and say "I can't wait to move away. It's SO boring here."

Ummm... some people just must not know where to look, because my calendar is full!

Music on Main
live music. great food. lots of fun!

Free Admission!

Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Place: Main Street, Downtown Garner

2009 Season Band Schedule
May 13th: The Fantastic Shakers
June 11th: The Band of Oz
July 9th: The Embers
August 13th: Holiday Band
September 10th: Craig Woolard Band
Yay, I love summer!!


{Image: Music on Main website.}