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."

Krispy Kreme Offers Lightly Glazed Doughnut

For those of you who have never had the luxury of tasting the deliciousness that is a Krispy Kreme doughnut... you have no idea what you're missing.

While delicious, sometimes even one is just too much for me.

I'm really excited about the press release posted today on Carolina Business Connection (by far, one of my FAVORITE local newswires) about a lightly-glazed variation being offered through March 28th. Maybe it'll be so popular it'll become a permanent addition... well, a girl can dream, right?

Read the Press Release Here

Here's a little blurb about the feature doughnut:

"Winston-Salem, NC –February 26, 2008 – Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) understands that sometimes you need just a little something sweet. For a limited time, Krispy Kreme is offering a Lightly Glazed Doughnut – a hint of sweetness on top of Krispy Kreme's signature golden doughnut.

The new featured doughnut is a yeast-raised ring drizzled lightly with Krispy Kreme's Original glaze.

"With just a touch of glaze atop one of Krispy Kreme's original doughnuts, we've put a new spin on that one of a kind taste," said Ron Rupocinski, Krispy Kreme's Executive Chef.

Lightly glazed doughnuts are offered for a limited time from now until March 23 at participating Krispy Kreme locations. For more information, please visit http://www.krispykreme.com/."Also, as a side note, I wonder if this would make the infamous Krispy Kreme Challenge Dozen go down any easier? Hmmm...

Gone Fishin'

If you hang around long enough, you'll probably get to hear my dad tell the story of one of our many boating trips together when I was a kid and how my favorite purple rain coat sits on the bottom of Lake Wheeler to this day.

The following story is about a family that loves fishin' and how it's been part of their family for generations...

For This NC Family, Fishing Is Passed From Father to Daughters
By SUZANNE ULBRICH
The Daily News of Jacksonville

Posted: Feb. 23, 2008

SNEADS FERRY, N.C. — Fields such as fishing and farming often span generations, with the work and the lifestyle passed from father to son.

For Mack Liverman, however, his daughters are the ones stepping into his boots.

Liverman and his daughters, Christine and Terri Liverman of Sneads Ferry, are looking forward to spring's arrival because it means they will once again climb aboard the Lady Ellen and set their nets for a day of shrimping.

It's a lifestyle, they say. It's what they were born to do.

"I like it 'cause I get to spend all day with my dad and my sister. Not many kids can say that, especially girls," Christine said. "It's cold, it's hot, it's hard and it wears and tears on your body - I love it."

Christine and Terri say they see things every day on the water that most people will never see in their lifetimes. Both could talk all day about all the great things about shrimping and sharing that time with family.

"To me, it's heaven on earth," Terri said.

They love the clean air, the quiet and the surrounding beauty.

"I would go crazy closed up inside somewhere," Christine admitted.

Their father, Mack, has been fishing full time since he was 15 years old.

"My parents and grandparents were fishermen, so I grew up on fishing boats," Mack said. "I quit school and went to work with my dad and granddaddy. They tried to talk me out of fishing for years, but I love to do it."

Mack said he'd take the girls along when they weren't even old enough to walk.

"When both girls were just 6 or 7 months old, I'd get up early in the morning, while their momma was still sleeping, and snatch them up and take them fishing with me - I'd be out there on the water changing diapers," he said.

Though the three get up before the sun comes up and do not get home most of the time until after the sun sets seven days a week during the shrimp season, all three say there is nowhere else any of them would rather be.

"The first thing you hear when the sun comes up is the birds, They know they will be eating soon," Terri said. "The seagulls show up first and then the pelicans, and then you'll see the dolphins coming in."

Both say the work is exhausting and requires a lot of heavy lifting, but they have a system in place that enables them to get the job done.

"We've learned to do things a little different so we're actually capable of doing it, and we use the winch to do some things," Christine said.

Terri said they work together; she estimates 90 percent of the work is accomplished as a team.

Mack says his daughters are the best crew he has ever had.

"All their life, they have been messing with (shrimping), and if I needed some help, one of them would go with me and do whatever was necessary," he said. "But they have been doing it full time with me for about three years. It's hard to get crews now because there is not a lot of money in it for the work. And with drinking and drugs around, you can't depend on people anymore. I know I can depend on them to be here.

"And they're good at what they do."

Mack's wife Ellen worked many years on the boat alongside her husband and has no qualms about her daughters joining him.

"I never worried about him taking them; they've grown up on the boat with their daddy," Ellen said. "They have worked other jobs, but they've always come back to their dad's boat. I don't know how we would have done it without them."

It's something Christine and Terri are happy to do, even though it can be a dirty and smelly job.

"It's just part of what you go through," Terri said.

Christine looks at it a little more pragmatically.

"One thing Daddy taught us, the worse you smell the more money you made," Christina said, laughing.

The only thing that has ever happened on the boat that scared them occurred this past summer when Terri was cleaning the nets out at the end of the day. To do so, she leans over the side of the boat and shakes the nets.

"There were lots of sharks all over this summer. ... I fell overboard right into the sharks," Terri said. "I knew I'm going (in the water), and there's no stopping."

Christine, fearing for her sister, jumped in after her. Christine, however, is not a very good swimmer, so Terri had the added concern that Christine could be in trouble.

But it was daddy - who fixed a rope to winch and pulled them both out - to the rescue.

As they talk about their fear that day, they both admit they were also concerned about losing their expensive, specially ordered boots. They worried about what they would have worn the next day.

Terri even dove down in the water and through the sharks to rescue the boot that fell off when she first went in.

But other than the day with the sharks, the girls do not fear being on the water, not even in rough weather, because they know their father has a lot of experience and will keep them safe.

They are more afraid the lifestyle they have come to know and love will become extinct, at least in North Carolina. They fear imported shrimp and fuel prices will make it impossible for them to keep shrimping. They also fear the fish houses will become extinct along with life on the water.

Terri's 17-year-old son Jeffrey would love to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, but Terri thinks all the changes she has seen the last few years will prevent him from doing so.

Terri and Christine say they will never have another captain. They laugh and say it took too long for them to train their father - they don't have time to train another.

When he retires, they think they will too.

Unless, of course, Jeffrey becomes a captain and needs help ... it is, after all, a family tradition.

Let's Keep the South Nice and Clean, OK?

I wish there was an opt-out list (which honestly, I haven't looked in to... there may actually be).

Anyways, they are just a massive waste of paper, ink, time, etc. when I can go online and have a phone number quicker.

The fact that there are actually very few places for residents to easily recycle them, makes me irate because that means it just won't happen and they'll end up in the dumpster... land-fill bound.

For those of you who will take the extra effort (and I hope you do!) to put them through to at least the last useful function they have (pet bedding and insulation, according to the following article), here's the skinny on drop-offs, etc.:

How to dump old (or new) phone books
Curbside recycling may refuse them
Wade Rawlins, Staff Writer New phone books seem to multiply in the driveway this time of year. Now, as a fresh crop is being delivered, the season to recycle has arrived.

But not everyone can throw the old books in their curbside recycling bin. It depends on your community's contract with its recycling processor. Throughout Durham and Orange counties, residents can chuck the books in their household bins. But not in Raleigh or Cary.

That's because taking phone books in the curbside bins usually results in less revenue from a town's recycling processor, according to Linda Leighton, waste reduction specialist with the City of Raleigh. The books have to be picked out of the bins by hand so they don't mix with other paper goods. And they're hardly worth the trouble.

"Phone books are considered contamination in the paper waste stream," Leighton said, because they're produced with paper that has already been recycled numerous times. As a result, she said, their last best use is as pet bedding or insulation.WHERE TO TOSS IN RALEIGH, WAKE
Raleigh and Wake County's annual phone book recycling drive continues through May 9. That coincides with the delivery dates of new phone books.

Wake County residents can also recycle phone books year-round at two places: North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Center, on 9016 Deponie Drive in Raleigh; and South Wake Multi-material Recycling Facility, at 6300 Old Smithfield Road in Apex.

In Wake County, locations open through May 9 include:
* East Millbrook Middle School, 3801 Spring Forest Road
* Jaycee Park, 2405 Wade Ave.
* Leesville Road Elementary School, 8401 Leesville Road
* N.C. Department of Administration, 116 W. Jones St.
* Wake County Office Park, 4011 Carya Drive (off Poole Road)
* West Millbrook Middle School, 8115 Strickland Road
* Cary Elementary School, 400 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
* Garner High School, 2101 Spring Drive, Garner

Find a complete list of Wake County drop-off locations, go to:
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/residents/recycle/telephonebook.htm

Tobacco Road

Dangit! I wanted a piece of a sports bar to call "Tobacco Road". I knew it'd be a great name for a bar around these parts. And I still know that it'll be a great place to watch college sports with a nice hint of rivalry in the air.

Apparently, those Amra boys beat me to it. Oh well, if it could be anyone else... I'm glad it's them! (If you've never been to a wine tasting at Amra's on Glenwood South - or anything else there for that matter - I highly recommend it!)

From Ashton's daily dish on Downtown Dirt and more... here's the short and sweet of it... and I do mean short!

"In downtown news: The 7000 square foot satellite sports bar planned for 222 Glenwood (to be opened by the Amra’s brothers) will be called Tobacco Road."

Koozies!

Around here, we make koozies for everything. (And it took me a minute to think about whether I wanted to create this blog post here, or on my fashion & trend blog. Guess what... it's going in both because I think it's totally relevant to all things Southern and trendy.)

Lisa at Fred's Beds introduced me to a wonderful, low-cost koozie company (based right here in Raleigh, woo!) online at KustomKoozies.com. Her contact there, Linda,.... is awesome! I definitely suggest these folks for any large amounts of koozie you may need (weddings, birthdays, sorority and fraternity events, etc.). We used them for the Fred's Beds / Susan G. Komen October '07 breast cancer awareness "Sleeping for the Cure" campaign and they were able to help us in a huge time crunch. I later used them with my BUS 465 IMC Management class for our Honda Accord Coupe on-campus promotional event.

I am SUPER excited to see this week's Gifts & Decorative Accessories Product Wire eNewsletter had Mary Phillips Designs (from here in Raleigh as well!) in their New to Market section. Here was their blurb on the super-cute "Bride" koozie:

"Stay Cool

Collapsible Coozie Collection from Mary Phillips Designs keeps beverages cool and shows personality. Other messages including “You call me ‘Party Girl’ like it’s a bad thing” and “Life’s Uncertain. Drink Now.” $8.

Mary Phillips Designs, Raleigh NC

(800) 825-4575"

Mayor Announces Spring Salute to our Troops

From the City of Raleigh eNewsgram:

"Mayor Charles Meeker announced Feb 12 that downtown Raleigh will be the setting for an enormous Salute to Our Troops on April 26. The day long celebration and “Thank-You” will begin at 10:00 am with a parade from Davie Street to the Capitol. For more information visit http://www.saluteournctroops.org/."Sadly, that happens to be the same day as the Triangle Beach Music Festival, but I'll make both happen somehow!

SPCA and Big Boss Brewing: Bark & Wine

I received an email from the SPCA today that my previous post on the Down by the Tracks SPCA event last fall came up Google.com search results of the SPCA Pet Adoption Center, so I want to make sure to provide yet another glowing testimonial for them (that was already in my MySpace blog but hadn't made it's way here yet)!

Most everyone who knows me, knows of my sincere love for pups - especially those who don't have a home. I've been fortunate enough to have two dogs sent my way (one from the SPCA and one showed up on my parents' back porch with his sister tagging along... who by the way lives with my parents).

I think it's important to share other people's success stories about pet adoption, so I wanted to blog about the story that Jimmy Johnson, Sales Manager at Big Boss Brewing Co. here in Raleigh, sent to his email list subscribers about an event they're hosting with the SPCA this week.

*SPCA Bark And Wine Fundraiser*
When- Thursday, 6-9 p.m.
Where- SPCA Adoption Center
Admssion- $25

Alright. So this is something i'm doing because it's very near to my heart. It's a fundraiser for the SPCA of Wake County. I will be down at the SPCA shelter off Tryon road this Thursday pouring samples of our fine BIG BOSS products. There will be 6-8 varieties of wine and light fare to boot.

For those of you who know me, you may also know my bulldog Molly-Girl. She is my only love and the reason I get out of bed in the morning. Molly was found in a parking lot with mange when she was 6 months old. The fine people of the SPCA took her in, rehabilitated her, and called me. That was two years ago on Father's Day. My life has been better every day since.

There are so many animals that never get a second chance, if they ever even had one. This is an opportunity to help these animals by giving a very little bit of your time and money. I know not everybody is in a position to take a dog home, but you can help by simply attending this fundraiser where you'll get to drink fine wines and beer!

I know that many of you plan on spending your money on a nice dinner and gifts, and I get it. But if you can find it in your heart to give just a little back to the animals that just want to love and be loved, the reward is priceless. Thanks for listening to my little rant and I hope to see some of you there.

For more info, please go to: www.spcawake.org/bark

March Madness is Coming!

Ok, so it's not here yet... but things sure are heating up on Tobacco Road!

After doing some fun event research for a postcard at work, I decided that I want to have a March Madness party this year. Either at the townhouse or at Buckhead. I mean, this is NC people... if you can't enjoy ACC basketball then you have no business being in close proximity to NCSU, UNC, Duke, and Wake Forest all at once.

I think I'll make this drink I found on eVite's March Madness party ideas:

"Beer and sports are a perfect match, so have a fridge full of brew. But if you want to shoot long for a 3-pointer, try this cocktail with three different rums (one for each point).

3-Point Basket (Zombie)

• 1 shot dark rum
• 1 shot white rum
• 1 shot gold/spiced rum
• 1/2 shot apricot brandy
• 1/2 shot lime juice
• 1/2 shot pineapple juice
• a dash of sugar

Stir and serve."Sounds yummy!