Going to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater has been the number one travel request from Triangle Modernist Houses fans for many months. So, they’ve put together a truly memorable, affordable weekend trip the weekend of September 18 featuring Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, and the Irving and Betty Abrams house (by Robert Venturi) in Pittsburgh. 

The trip will feature Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, one of the best-known and loved houses in the world, as few get to see it; a full guided tour with photography privileges, finished off with a sunset wine and cheese reception. How cool is that?

Tickets are still available and include flight, hotel, admissions, and transportation (including wifi on the tour bus). Details and signup is here.

The City of Raleigh is accepting nominations for the 2010 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Community Appearance. The annual awards recognize outstanding new development, building rehabilitation efforts, and natural resource conservation within the Capital City. The awards program was established in 1983 to commemorate exemplary achievement in enhancing the city’s appearance. More than 200 projects, sites, and individuals have been honored.

Awards are offered in 11 different award categories, including new residential, commercial, or institutional construction, plus historic preservation, sustainable design, and tree and landscape conservation. The award for “Maintained Outstanding Appearance” honors appearance contributions by projects 5 years old or older. The “Individual” award is presented to a citizen who has consistently worked to preserve or improve city appearance.

The deadline for entries for the 2010 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards is Friday, July 9. Nominations for the can be made online at or by completing a printed form available at City government offices. In addition to project information, six or more digital photos of each nominated project or individual, submitted on CD or flash drive, are also required.

An independent jury will meet in July to review the nominations. Award winners will be selected based on specific criteria, including exhibition of a new standard of excellence, awareness of land stewardship, innovation, conservation of natural and/ or historic resources, and exceeding applicable ordinances. The Raleigh City Council will confirm the jury’s selections in August. Awards will be presented in October.

The Raleigh Big Garden Tour is back with some of the most beautiful gardens in Raleigh. VIP and general admission tickets are still available for the prestigious tour of private, inside-the-beltline gardens. The event, which benefits Raleigh Little Theatre, takes place today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Raleigh Big Garden Tour tickets are $17 each or $15 each for groups of 10 or more.  The price includes admission to all eight gardens.

“The gardens on this year’s tour are absolutely gorgeous,” said Tobi Bowen, The Raleigh Big Garden Tour chair. “Because this event is being held on Father’s Day Weekend, it offers a change of pace for those who prefer ‘the green’ they view this weekend not to have a little flag sticking out.”

To purchase tickets for The Raleigh Big Garden Tour or for more information, please visit www.raleighbiggardentour.com.

Group sales are not available online. Instead, contact the box office at 919-821-3111.

Interested in home automation? Be sure to take a swing by North Hills between 10am and 2pm (maybe 3p) today and see the Lutron RV. The portable showroom shows all of the latest energy and time-saving controls that Lutron has to offer. One of Lutron’s newest offerings is their iPhone app which allows one to remotely control the lighting scenes in one’s house. Lutron advisors as well as home automation experts will be on hand to answer any questions.

The bus will be tucked beneath the Renaissance hotel, on the rear, lower level of North Hills.

Note: The RV is actually in the JCPenny parking lot, abutting Lassiter Mill Road

Triangle Modernist Houses has put together another fascinating house tour in the area. This time the focus is on the decade-old Thompson house, designed by David Davenport. The 6,000 square foot, two-story house is made of heavy steel and wood construction, with real stucco, includes a go-cart track modeled after the Bristol Speedway and a 3,400 square foot garage/apartment.

Tickets for the June 19 tour are $6, but Mod Squad members get in free.

Tomorrow morning Daniels Middle School will officially unveil a set of new solar photovoltaic arrays. The $20,000, 2-KW solar PV system is connected to the school’s electrical system and to internet-based monitoring equipment. This will enable students to study the panels’ electricity.

The SunSense schools program is part of a partnership between Progress Energy Carolinas and the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ’N Community Foundation. It provides a hands-on educational program for middle school and high school students that encourages them to develop innovative energy solutions. Daniels Middle School is one of five winning schools across the Carolinas that received PV arrays and educational materials to help teachers integrate renewable energy learning opportunities into the classroom.

While the Mod Squad is taking a bus trip to Charlotte in a few weeks, they are also happy to announce a day-trip to Washington, DC. The trip includes stops at the Charles Gwaltney-designed Rales Museum near Potomac, the Richard Neutra-designed Brown Residence, the Gordon Bunshaft-designed Hirshhorn Museum, and the Maya Lin-designed Vietnam Veterans Wall. The trip includes a 6:45am flight to BWI, lunch abord the air-conditioned, internet-equipped tour bus, and a return to RDU at 10:30pm. Dinner is on your own, and about 2 hours are allotted (so there is ample time to get to Rosa Mexicano ) Tickets are $459 per person.

The Junior League of Raleigh’s annual “Showcase of Kitchens” tour began this morning, and runs thru tomorrow. The self-guided tour of 8 ITB showcase kitchens is an outstanding opportunity to learn about design details as well as see special in-home presentations from local restaurants, retail stores, tabletop designs, culinary demonstrations, and more.

The tour features kitchens on the following streets (.pdf map)

• Lake Boone Trail
• Rolston Drive
• Rand Drive
• Churchill Road
• Graham Street
• Vance Street
• Oxford Road
• Chesterfield Road

Show times are: Friday and Saturday from 10am – 4pm. Tickets are $25 per person and are available only at the Will Call house at 3026 Churchill Road (map it).

The 2010 Remodelers Home Tour kicks off today featuring 13 excellent house renovations. The tour runs from 10am – 5pm today and 1pm – 5pm tomorrow.