Last New Project of 2009... Promise!

You know, unless I just HAVE to do something on December 30th.

It seems like just yesterday I was announcing the launch of IHeartRetail.com. (Big "Thank You!"s to everyone who has visited, by the way!)

Well, if you know me, you know that I also heart restaurants, bars, and going out... especially in my favorite city - RALEIGHWOOD!

I am constantly getting asked "how did you know about (fill in the blank)", etc. So, my pal Evan and I decided to compile our cumulative knowledge of websites and New Year's Eve happenings in Raleigh and this was born: RaleighNYE.com.



I'll personally be at Tobacco Road (and then late-night at Sauced Pizza) and would LOVE to see any of you who will be out and about! Just stop in either location (no cover) and say "Hi"!

Special Events at the Downtown Raleigh Outdoor Ice Rink

How much fun does Date Night sound?!

Tuesday, December 22: Family Night - Skate with Santa from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm.

Sunday, January 3: Sledding Ramps - Snow My Yard will create a winter wonderland with sledding ramps open from 12 noon-5 pm. This activity is FREE for anyone wearing their ice rink admission wristband. For pictures, visit www.snowmyyard.com.

Thursday, January 7: Date and Skate Night - Make memories in downtown Raleigh. Couples can enjoy "Date Night Specials" at participating downtown restaurants and then simply show their receipt to receive a $4 discount for admission for two to the ice rink. That's only $8 for admission (includes skates) per couple! Free carriage rides will also be available from 6 pm-9 pm for anyone wearing their ice rink admission wristband. Create a special night for that special someone.Visit RaleighWinterfest.com for any other details you might need!

Any Redneck Women Out There?

If so, I thought you might like to know that the original "Redneck Woman", Gretchen Wilson, is performing this Saturday afternoon at City Limits Saloon in Raleigh!

It's actually a "Thank you!" and benefit event, put on by the folks at WQDR, City Limits, and Deep South Entertainment.

WQDR and City Limits Saloon wanted to thank everyone who donated to the QDR Christmas Wish program that has been held on-air for the past few weeks, so to do that, they're inviting those who donated out to special afternoon concert on December 19th with Gretchen Wilson.

If you didn't get a chance to hear about Christmas Wish or to donate, you can purchase tickets at the door for $10.00; however, space will be limited. All proceeds from the door go to benefit the QDR Christmas Wish :-)

Doors open at 12pm. No advance tickets are available.
You can call the boys at City Limits at (919) 829-3939 if you have any other questions!

Calling All Mommies, Awesome Aunts, and Grand Parents...

As I was thinking about buying gifts for tomorrow’s Jingle Ball (www.jingleball.org), I realized that I obviously don’t do all that much toy buying!

I am wondering if any of you awesome readers have any tips on how to maximize $25.00 in the world of toys?

Since this is such a great cause, I want to try and contribute as much as I can with a $25.00 value of gifts donated, but I don’t want to buy things that will go unused. I know this is probably not the best time of year to try and work some magic for toys, but didn’t know if there were any good options outside of a traditional toy store that I should be looking at.

Or, if there are any toy retailers, who always have a coupon available like Bed, Bath, and Beyond does for household items ;-)

Thank you - in advance - for any tips!

I also emailed this to Sue Stock to see if she has any tips. If she does, I'll be sure to post them here in the comments.

PS - Daddy input welcome, too. Sorry I forgot about that major group!

I Wish...

...concert dates were release well before their on-sale dates so I could save up money for tickets!

For instance, I'd LOVE to see Clapton on March 8th. Will I have the money for tickets to be purchased in 4 days from today? Not with the fees, that's for sure. Do I think it's worth putting it on my credit card? Nope.

At least the two shows I HAVE to see in 2010 were announced welllll ahead of time.

Tim McGraw - August 14th, 2010 - Walnut Creek (Thanks Dana!)
With Lady A opening!

Brooks & Dunn (farewell tour) - June 5th, 2010 - Venue TBD (Double Thanks Dana!)

If they're both at Walnut Creek, I'll buy a few Mega-Tickets again! Nick and I didn't renew them last year because it was all the same.

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!

Breakfast with Santa for a Few Great Causes!

I received a really special email today and can't pass up the opportunity to share this event with readers.

Second Annual Charity Breakfast Buffet with Santa
Saturday December 12, 2009 8-11 am
Spice Street Restaurant, Chapel Hill (Get directions from Google.)

This event is organized by the resident physicians at UNC and this year we are supporting 4 charities: Ronald McDonald House, SECU Family House, NC Food Bank, and Toys for Tots.

Last year we had a great event with over $700, 300 canned goods, and almost 400 toys donated. This year we have a bigger venue, a cheaper price, and an additional charity. Kids can take pictures with Santa (skip the mall lines and prices), make ornaments, and enjoy face painting all while benefiting the community.

Spice Street will make a donation (to the Ronald McDonald House and SECU Family House) for every buffet purchased and we are asking people to bring canned goods or new toys.

Adults $10 and kids $5 including tax and gratuity (cash, check and credit cards accepted)!

Thank you to Dr. Qionna Tinney from UNC Hospital for sharing this with me!

PS - I was really excited to find out, when checking out the website, that Spice Street is owned by Giorgios Hospitality Group - family company of a good friend of mine! Many thanks to them for serving as host venue for this event. I'm really looking forward to their new Cary venture - Giorgio - coming this month.

Looks like Nick and I will be having breakfast with Santa ;-)

Taking Local Love to a New Level

So this whole "concept" is something that Mandy and I have been talking up for a looooong time. And I am really pumped to finally be getting it out there. It's not anywhere close to being as content-rich as it will be soon, but it's at least a start.



Right now, the biggest features are the email newsletter (bringing local style and retail directly to your inbox - but no, not like Express/Banana Republic/etc. style... I refuse to harass you all daily), Top Picks, and the feature appearances from local readers, too!

If you have a few minutes, please stop by and check it out. Today our Black Friday content is still up, so you can check out what we liked for November... but tomorrow and over the next few days, December will be making its way in.

And if you're a local shopper, or just appreciate good style, please consider joining the email list, too :-)

And YES, I really DO want YOU to send me your tips, pictures, etc. I think this is going to be a lot of fun. A lot of work, of course - but most importantly... a lot of fun.

www.iheartretail.com

Add This to Your Christmas List

I was debating whether or not to blog about this, but it's gotten a TON of attention on my facebook... so apparently the people approve!



My question to my twitter/facebook friends was this, "Do you think my Tarheel boyfriend would kill me if my car played the NC State fight song when I unlock the doors?"

The press release I read about the Motor Mouth includes the following:

"Looking for the perfect gift that someone will enjoy long after the holiday season is over? Look no further than Motor Mouth, the product that can turn anyone's car or truck into a personal broadcast system. The product, which gives individual vehicles a unique ringtone so owners can tell the world what they are passionate about, is available in several sound series including hunter and sportsman, specific colleges, auto racing, barnyard, holiday and several others."

"Sounds available include: Sportsman Series: wild turkey (NWTF Licensed), duck commander, wild boar, goose, deer, duck and elk. Sports fans can enjoy the "Start Your Engines" race series or baseball, while the lifestyle series offers holiday sounds, barnyard animal sounds, horse sounds and hound dog sounds. The company also has exclusive rights with NC State University, East Carolina University, West Virginia University and University of Tennessee to market the sounds unique to those schools, including the school's fight songs."After several "likes"' and amusing comments on facebook, it appears that boys AND girls are a fan of this. I imagine people would have a fit over it in the parking lot at the NCSU vs. UNC game this weekend.

I personally don't need to attract any more wildlife than necessary (the deer are everywhere this year, drive safe!), but I do like the selection they have and think my car should play the NC State Fight Song... or maybe something NASCAR (I prefer "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity" over "Start your engines", but I guess DW has that trademarked!).

If you are so inclined, you can check out their website.


{PS} This blog post was not endorsed or sponsored by Motor Mouth, nor am I employed by them - I just thought it was kinda cool. Lucky for them, huh?

Brush Up On Your History Over a Double

Coming Holiday 2009!



Brush up on your Raleigh history, enjoy a double, and oh don't forget... there's no food, so you're gonna need a membership. See you there!

As always, "Thanks!" to my SUPER most favorite - Tyler - at TriangleBlvd.tv for the video!

{PS} You can follow the guys from Hunter's Oak City Tavern (who I also love in a big way) on twitter, @HuntersOakCity.

Spare Change Coming to City Limits!

If you've been to the TBMF, there's a good chance you've partied with Spare Change... and had a blast. I love these guys and was super excited to see they'll be coming to City Limits in December. (They often play a lot of Eastern NC shows, but never close enough for me to get there to party.)

They cover everything from country to rock 'n' roll and have a great stage presence. Check out their website, facebook, or twitter for more updates!

Here's the skinny from City Limits:

Thursday, December 3rd, City Limits Saloon welcomes the hell raisin’ party band Spare Change! With covers of everything from country and rock to rap and beach, it’s gonna be a Thursday you don’t want to miss!See ya there!

N.C. Children's Promise 2009

They have already raised over $500,000.00 today.

AMAZING.

I called in a few hours ago to renew my $12.00 x 12 months donation.

ANY little bit you can donate helps. The NC Children's Hospital turns no child away based on their family's ability to pay for treatment.

Here are my posts from last year about this amazing event and hospital, if you are a new reader!

Google Outdid Google

I <3 Cookie Monster!

Happy Birthday, Sesame Street!

Google celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street today.
(Details from HuffingtonPost.com)

Brings back memories, huh?

16th Annual Jingle Ball

I am SO pumped about going to my first Jingle Ball this year! It's just so fabulous, in so many ways. The local young professionals who are organizing this have put together an amazing event... how very inspiring!

Details via facebook/and an email from my friends at DowntownRaleigh.com:

Each attendee is asked to bring an unwrapped holiday gift for a child valued at $20 value or more per person. For those not bringing a gift, admission will be $30 by cash or check at the door. The Capital City Clauses is a federally registered nonprofit corporation, and all contributions are tax-deductible. No one under 21 years of age will be admitted, and photo identification is required.

Come eat, drink, dance and be merry for a good cause! Dress for this event is cocktail/party attire. Please join us and help bring brighter holidays to Wake County children.

Gifts are considered tickets for this event and are your donated gift to the Salvation Army. Each participant will be granted entrance to the 2009 16th Annual Jingle Ball by bringing a new unwrapped toy valued at $20 or more or donating $30 cash or check with all proceeds going directly to the Salvation Army of Wake County.

And a little more from the website, JingleBall.org:The Capital City Clauses are preparing for the 2009 Jingle Ball on Thursday, December 10th. The festivities will take place at Marbles Kids Museum, in downtown Raleigh, from 6:30PM until 10:30PM. Since the first Jingle Ball was held in 1994, we have given thousands of toys and articles of clothing to the needy children of Wake County, and we hope to have our most successful year yet in 2009!

The Jingle Ball's success hinges both on corporate sponsorships and on each attendee's contribution of a toy (or clothing, books, games, etc) of $20 or greater value for admission. Our organization is comprised entirely of volunteers who help with the financing, planning, and executing of the Jingle Ball. All monetary proceeds go toward the event expenses, and all of the toys are distributed to Wake County children.

As our primary goal is to collect toys at the door rather than money, we cannot depend upon the minimal door receipts we collect to finance the event. Therefore, the Capital City Clauses need corporate support to help offset the costs of hosting this event and to ensure its continued success.
Put it on your calendar - hope to see some of you local readers there!