Race for Charity at Rush Hour

Disclaimer: Before any of you engage in any reckless driving on I-40 between 5 and 6pm... I'm referring to the high-speed go-kart track down in Garner!

Rush Hour Karting is SO much fun! For any you who haven't had the chance to get down there yet and drive a go-kart that goes 35 miles per hour... you need to ASAP and unleash your inner Danica Patrick (ok, ok... or your inner Kasey Kahne - that's for you boyfriend).

If you need a little more encouragement, they're doing a fabulously civic-minded charity race league every Tuesday night from 7-9pm that includes 15 practice laps, 15 qualifying laps, and a 20 lap race for the top 12 qualifiers! It costs $30 to join in and 100% of proceeds go to the St. Baldrick's Foundation: Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids' Cancer.

Join us out there sometime!

Steel Magnolias

After "google-ing" Buzz & Berly last night, I stumbled upon this blog: Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S.

I love the random goings-on this fellow southern belle writes about and the collection of "Steel Magnolias" she links to! Her description, is one of my favorite southern girl quotes that I had not yet included here:

"If anyone tries to tell you a Southern girl shouldn't drink, just tell them the truth: we don't drink, we sip...a lot."

April 26th... FANTASTIC OVERLOAD!

If there were ever a day where too much was going on... this is certainly how I'd like to have it!

Millbrook Exchange Park's 19th Annual Bark Around the Park
A favorite for Raleigh dog owners, the festivities will take place on Saturday, April 26th from 11 am to 3 pm at the Park. Bark Around the Park is organized by Raleigh's Parks and Recreation Department.Participate in the Dog Show that has an event for every dog or get your frisky pup to show his skills in the Frisbee contest. Prizes will be given for first place in each event. Also, there will be demonstrations and information vendors at the event.Interested in sponsorship or being a vendor? Contact Nikki Speer at 872-4156. Learn more about the day's activities, sponsors and vendors at RaleighNC.gov.

World Beer Festival
More info to come!

Salute or NC Troops
More info to come!

Triangle Beach Music Festival
More info to come!

Sad To See Iatria Go

...from Leo's RalCon Tumblog... a link to Sue Stock's (The N&O) "Raleigh Pioneer Pulls Out".

It seems that Iatria will be leaving Downtown at the end of this month :-( They are definitely one of their kind in the heart of Downtown on the ground-level of the new Progress Energy building.

There are other similar salons on Glenwood, but Iatria is a true day spa. I've worked with the Downtown manager, Traci, doing cross-promotions for Buckhead and setting up some fabulous bachelorette pampering parties and she is FABULOUS, so if she'll be moving to one of Iatria's other locations... that's where I'll be getting pampered from now on!

Also noted in the article... Cody's Chinese Bistro will be closing at the end of this month.

So... is anything new coming or is it all bad news? There is a new retail boutique opening up shop at Five Points...

Got Plans for Saturday?

I'm SO going. Who wants to join?

Second Chance Pet Adoptions Annoucnes Open House and Yarn Cutting for New Cageless, "No-Kill" Animal Adoption Center - from Carolina Business Connection

Here's the main info:

Who: Second Chance Pet Adoptions

What: Second Chance Pet Adoptions has opened a larger adoption center to help continue the organization's goal of finding new homes for stray and abandoned Triangle animals.

When & Where: The Open House and yarn cutting ceremony is set for Saturday April 12, from 11 am to 3 pm in the Tanager Center at 6003 Chapel Hill Road Hwy 54 West in Raleigh. The yarn cutting ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m.

Why: "As the Triangle's first no-kill facility, we've helped thousands of animals find permanent, loving homes," said Brian Darer, a Raleigh attorney and volunteer president of Second Chance Pet Adoptions. "Our cageless cat rooms and dog adoption room allow the public to interact with all of our animals. The new facility should help increase the number of animals we can save, and also create a warm and inviting place for the public to meet their new family members."

Well Crap...

Looks like the industry rumors are true... Nelson's is closed (but it's reopening, as Ashton says, as Foster's ... again).

Check out the N&O article on all the happenings in Cameron Village. We'll shall see what will become of the Nelson's Late-Night and if Foster's will offer something similar.

In all honesty though, the same article reports the closing of my favorite little organizational shop - Hold Your Own - in Cameron Village. That's what I'm really bummed about. It notes that their other store in Durham is remaining open... but we all know that I can rarely be found venturing to Durham for anything. (There was that one time freshman year where I wandered over for the last iPod in a two-county radius... but that was a special exception.)

This Is A Very Important Topic These Days...

Where to go for lunch/dinner and where can we sit outside to enjoy doing so (bonus points if the dogs can join, too!)?

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Ashton's daily email update and to the following blog for gathering all the info into one blog post for us:

Raleigh Philosophical Society: Best place to enjoy outdoor dining?PS - I hope everyone will join me for lunch AND dinner at Hard Times Cafe (one of my favorite places to dine outside in the whole city) on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 between 11:00am and 10:00pm! If you tell them that you are there to support NCSU's Relay for Life (AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART!), they will donate a portion of your bill to this year's Relay event. Let's kick cancer's butt together my friends :-)

13 Coastal Projects Will Get State Funding

Personally, I'm very glad to see that some effort is being made to ensure that our NC beaches remain accessible to ALL.

13 Coastal Projects Will Get State Funding

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — State officials have approved funding for 13 projects to improve public access to the water along North Carolina's rapidly developing coast.

Marine Fisheries Division Director Louis Daniel has approved about $20 million for sites that can be used by commercial and recreational fishermen, recreational boaters and the marine industry.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports $1.5 million has been approved for a $17 million fishing pier at Nags Head. An $18 million pier proposed for Emerald Isle will get $2.2 million.

The Legislature approved one-time funding for the projects based on recommendations from a Waterfront Access Study Committee. That panel said rapid development has brought higher property values and taxes that have resulted in the loss of traditional maritime industries and public access.

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."