May
22

Barking Cow Pub Coming to Lake Boone

The space formerly occupied by Second City Grill in Lake Boone Shopping Center will apparently become the Barking Cow Pub this summer, according to a sign in the window. Earlier in the year there were talks surrounding the highly successful Lake Boone location of Chubby’s Tacos moving into the space. Apparently a deal could not be completed, so Chubby’s will stay in the former location of a bar while a bar moves into a restaurant space.

May
12

McCreery Makes Idol Semifinal

mcreery[1]Tonight the results of the American Idol final four week were announced and Garner’s Scotty McCreery has made the show’s Top 3. This weekend Idol producers will go home with its top 3 contestants, therefore Garner is preparing for a parade and a 3pm concert by Scotty at Lake Benson Park.

For those planning on participating in all of the events, be sure to be at the park BY NOON. All parking will be at Bryan Farm (1832 New Bethel Church Road – map it), and no pets, tents, or coolers will be allowed. Be sure to show your consideration of others by using ponchos and raincoats instead of umbrellas.

Here is the schedule for Saturday’s rain-or-shine events:

  • 10am – 5pm: Shuttles will run from Bryan Farm
  • 10am – 7pm: Buffaloe Road closed to thru traffic
  • 11am – 4pm: Entertainment, crafts, and inflatables
  • Noon: Parade Lineup on Buffaloe Rd.
  • 2pm – 3pm: Parade
  • 3pm – 4pm: Concert

Congratulations, Scotty!

Apr
01

Durham Announces World’s Largest B&W Jumbotron

DBAP_jumbotronDurham N.C. – In a city best known for its minor league baseball, finding the next step in fame can be difficult. Durham has tried dropping its “City of Tobacco” moniker. They’ve tried erecting a new baseball stadium, illegally prosecuting Duke students, stealing Raleigh’s arts scene, and replacing a mall. Still Durham leaders feel nothing yet has distracted outsiders of its crime-ridden image.

So today, Durham leaders announced a revolutionary high-tech improvement to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP). Beginning this season fans can enjoy one of baseball’s largest jumbotrons, but with an unexpected twist. Keeping with the nostalgic, yesteryear theme of the DBAP, the new jumbotron will be black & white, thus making it the world’s largest such display.

In keeping with the naming conventions of landmark items in downtown Durham’s entertainment district, the new Durham Black and White Jumbotron will have a memorable name: DBAWJ (pronounced “du-BAWJ”)2011acornGGR_AFD

Sep
09

Glass Moon Reuniting for Redd Benefit on Sunday

GlassMoon While the occasion is sad, there is great news for Glass Moon fans. The band and some other local legends will perform and show their support for Tommy Redd, co-founder and songwriter for Nantucket, who recently lost his wife to cancer.

Moe’s Southwest Grill and friends of Tommy Redd are presenting the Switch Benefit Concert this Sunday (September 12) at 5 p.m. at Crossroads Entertainment Complex in Wake Forest. All proceeds from the benefit will go directly to Tommy Reed and his daughter Amanda to help them recover from the financial stress of his wife’s battle with cancer.

Moe’s Southwest Grill Wakefield will serve burritos, nachos, and sweet tea, donating all proceeds to Redd and his family. Between bands there will also be auctions and raffles to win items donated by such artists as Marshall Tucker, The Outlaws and Sugarland.

Bands performing at the benefit include Jesse Bolt, Super Grit, Drive, Cirkus, Brimstone, and Glass Moon who are reforming just for this event after a 25-year hiatus. The host of the benefit is Mark Roberts, TV personality and best known as the “Traffic Guy” on WRAL.

“Tommy has been such a good friend to me over the years as well as numerous artists that will be performing at this benefit. We are honored to be able to give him something in return and help him  through this tough time,” said Steve Johnson, event coordinator for the benefit and longtime friend of Tommy’s. “I am overwhelmed with the support the benefit is receiving from the Triangle area music community and I am excited to see old faces and jam out for a great cause.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 online at http://www.2112online.com/switch2010/ or at 2112 Percussion. Tickets will also be available at the door with the “Killer at 25” deal: $25. For those who can not attend the show, donations can be made at http://www.2112online.com/switch2010/.

Sep
07

Get Motivated…or Find A Different Way

motivated Tomorrow at the RBC Center the Get Motivated Business Seminar will run from 8am to 5pm. The day’s agenda includes communication, team building, organization, time management, goal achievement, and the like. Featured speakers (actually in attendance) are Rudy Giuliani, Gen. Colin Powell, Dr. Robert Schuller, Former N.C. State coach Lou Holtz, Steve Forbes, Brian Tracy, and Zig Ziglar, there will be a lot, a LOT, of people attending the lecture. (Doors open at 6:45am).

If you are not planning on getting motivated all day at the RBC Center, then you need to get motivated about finding a different way to work if you normally travel Wade Avenue or Interstate 40 near the Wade Ave. exits. The sessions end at 5pm, so make provisions in the afternoon as well.

Tickets are still available, last time I checked. Note that a videocast of the RBC Center’s event will be shown in the Raleigh Convention Center ballroom (none of the speakers will actually be in attendance at this venue). As for those of you going…interested in a meetup? Follow me on Twitter. We’ll arrange something.

Aug
06

Wild Turkey Lounge Honored

AngusBarn In the midst of its 50th anniversary year, The Angus Barn has been named an All-American Icon by Nation’s Restaurant News and won its 21st consecutive Wine Spectator Grand Award. Recently The Barn racked up another accolade. Its Wild Turkey Bar & Lounge has been named one of the Best Business Bars in America by Entrepreneur magazine.

The July 2010 issue includes The Wild Turkey Bar & Lounge among 15 American watering holes. It is one of only two bars in the Southeast named as a best bar for doing business.

Stating that the Wild Turkey Bar & Lounge has been “a cross-sectional hotbed of local politicos, big pharma executives and tech tycoons since it opened in 1984,” author Monica Corcoran Harel goes on to write that this is “the best place to strike a deal in the entire Research Triangle.” On any given night, one might run into local and state elected officials, as well as top executives from SAS, GlaxoSmithKline and more.

The review states that the essential attributes of a great business bar include discreet seating, friendly and attentive staff, a compelling crowd, manageable din, a full range of liquor, good lighting, good food, and decent décor.

May
22

4G Available In What City, Sprint?

greensborough Sprint has rolled out 4G service to only a few cities nationwide so far, and three of them are in the North Carolina Crescent. That includes Raleigh, Charlotte, and what city is that?

May
01

Charlotte Ranks as 10th Most Polluted

The American Lung Association’s rankings of the Most Polluted Cities (by ozone) came out this week and Charlotte sits at the #10 spot. No other North Carolina cities were mentioned in the 25-city list.

Feb
10

Hurricanes’ Top Minor League Team Moving to Charlotte

Charlotte Checkers owner Michael Kahn today announced his purchase of the AHL’s Albany River Rats, a Carolina Hurricanes affiliate. The AHL team’s new name will be the “Charlotte Checkers”, and the team will play its games in the Time Warner Cable basketball arena in Charlotte. The ECHL Charlotte Checkers will move elsewhere, likely to another North Carolina city if the team is not sold to another owner.

What this means to the Hurricanes is perhaps a strengthened fan base. As fans in the western part of the state follow the Charlotte team, they are bound to follow the players’ journeys up to Raleigh. It also greatly increases the chances of seeing the Carolina Hurricanes hold an exhibition game each year in Charlotte (after the already-booked 2010 preseason). Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford clearly made the point at the press conference today about this being a part of the franchise’s long term strategy of growing the sport of hockey in the state of North Carolina.

seating_hockey[1] No need to worry about this being Part A of a takeover scheme by the powers that be in Charlotte. For an NHL team to move the Charlotte, a new arena would have to be built. The TWC Arena has a short axis, much like the Dean Smith Center and the U.S. Airways Center (home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns). The short axis makes for a superior basketball configuration, but results in an unacceptable compromise for hockey. There are several bad options, and the Charlotte Checkers have opted to bizarrely offset the ice such that one of the blue lines runs through the center of the building. The result is that there is absolutely no seating beyond the faceoff circles on one end of the ice.

Sep
14

Philadelphia Public Libraries Set To Close

As of October 2, Philadelphia’s public libraries will close due to budget constraints. All branch activities and programs will be shut down and all books are due by October 1. Of course, this move is pending emergency funding from the Pennsylvania State Legistlature, which will probably come through in the end. Nevertheless, in the era of the internet, it would be interesting to see how many people actually miss the public library’s facilities and services should funding not come through.

[via]

Sep
01

Hotel Indigo Opens in RTP

hotel_indigo The first Hotel Indigo for North Carolina is now open, according to TBJ. The 125-room boutique hotel sits in an office park setting a few hundred yards from the I-40/Miami Blvd interchange in RTP. The hotel features plush bedding, “hardwood-style” flooring with area rugs, 42” HDTVs, and a heated indoor pool.

map it

Aug
23

The Week Ahead

As summer dies down, the schedule seems to get busier. Monday begins Downtown Restaurant Week, which is a great way to get out and explore some of the great downtown restaurants. The Wake County Public Schools return to the class on Tuesday. On Thursday Tim Wilson begins his stay at Charlie Goodnights while The Embers play at North Hills. The NC Museum of Art begins one of its last features before its Winter hiatus. Gone With The Wind will be the outdoor movie as well as the theme for many features around the NCMA all weekend. Next weekend marks La Fiesta del Pueblo as well as the Body, Mind, Spirit Expo at the fairgrounds. Sunday is the big day for Friesen’s 5K Fun Run as well as this year’s Kenny Chesney show at Walnut Creek. See more details at the gogoraleigh Google Calendar. Let’s go do it!

Aug
22

Polar Ice House Melts Away Summer

The Polar Ice Houses in Wake Forest and Garner are planning a big day to melt away summer. Today will be their open house, which includes $1 admission and $2.50 skate rental, free food, DJ music, figure skating demonstrations, prizes and appearances with Icey the polar bear mascot. Special on-ice games will include:

  • Turkey Bowling – Who knew there was another use for a frozen turkey? Slide the Thanksgiving bird down the ice for a strike in this unique and festive take on a traditional bowling game. Score the most strikes and you win!
  • Ice Hockey Shoot-outs – Get in the spirit of the Carolina Hurricanes as you test your skills shooting the puck on net and scoring against other competitors.
  • Sled Races – With the 2010 Vancouver Olympics around the corner, it’s time to jump on a sled and see if you’ve got what it takes to race your friends against the clock.

The event goes from 1pm to 4pm at both Polar Ice House locations

Polar Ice House Garner (map it)
103 New Rand Road
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 861-7465

Polar Ice House Wake Forest (map it)
1839-200 S. Main Street
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 453-1500

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