Raleigh Curios-city: N.C. State's Whisper Disks

This is the second in a new feature to shed the light on some of the more, uh, unique aspects of Raleigh. Know of something that Raleigh has that no other place does -- be it a building, a organization, a group or whatever? Then tell us about it!

Shhh! Wanna hear a secret?
Situated on a small section of grass somewhat between N.C. State's D.H. Hill Library and University Plaza (commonly known as "The Brickyard") are two large structures that look like two bowls standing on their sides, facing one another. I'm not sure of their official name; I've always heard them referred to as the "Whisper Disks."

The Whisper Disks are pretty "neat," for lack of a better word. They sit a fair distance away from one another. They both contain a little seat so that one person can sit in one and another person in the other and -- as the names imply -- you can whisper to each other and easily hear one another from this distance. The sounds bounce off the curve of the disks and are projected directly to the person sitting in the opposite disk.

I have to apologize at this point that I have no better information. There is simply just not that much information available online about them, and it's been quite a while since I've seen them in person.

The only thing I was able to find were these two engagement photos (congrats, leighduncan!). So, I can't tell you how far apart they are or how they actually work. (If anyone can provide more information, please do.)

All I know is that these are two of the cooler pieces of art-meets-science that we can boast in Raleigh. They're really one of those things that us citizens should show out-of-towners, they're that cool.

(Images from lusterstudios.com)

Folks back the Pack, Canes

Native North Carolinians and non-North Carolinians alike overwhelmingly pull for the N.C. State Wolfpack and the Carolina Hurricanes, according to the Society's recent (admittedly unscientific) survey.


Native 'Wolfpack State' results
More than three-quarters of those who took part in the survey claimed to be either native-born North Carolinians, have lived here for more than two decades or grew up here and now live out of state. Among those voters, 47 percent said college basketball is the one sport you follow above others. Twenty-nine percent said college football and 12 percent said hockey.

Among college hoops teams, 82 percent of native Carolinians said the team they root for is the Wolfpack. UNC came in second with 13 percent, "Other" was third with 5.3 percent and Duke fourth with just under three. (One person responded with support for UNCW.)

In the question of "which college football team do you pull for?" the Wolfpack received 79 percent of the votes. UNC was again second with 13 percent and "Other" was third with 5.3, while Duke and Appalachian State both garnered 2.6 percent.

When asked if you "pull for the Carolina Hurricanes," almost 90 percent said yes.


'Furriner' results
When asked to choose one sport to care about the most, those non-native North Carolinians gave the nod to hockey with just under 24 percent. Baseball and college basketball both received 17.6 percent and college football and soccer both received just under 12 percent of the votes.

When asked what college basketball team to pull for, 53 percent of non-natives chose NCSU, while 33 percent chose "Other." (In this case, two voters specifically mentioned UConn, while other singled out Florida State and Pittsburgh.) Duke garnered 13 percent and UNC just under 7.

As for the gridiron vote, the Pack again garnered 53 percent while "Other" got 40. (Specifically mentioned were UConn, Pitt and FSU again, along with Penn State and Wisconsin.) No other school received a vote.

As for the Hurricanes, 73 percent of non-natives said they support the Canes, while 27 percent said they do not. (One person noted that they used to cheer for the Hartford Whalers but now support the Boston Bruins. Others said they support the Pittsburgh Penguins or just "can't abide hockey.")


Thoughts on Sports in the Triangle
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this survey was our last question: "For natives and non-natives, what are your overall thoughts on the state of sports in the Triangle? How would you characterize various fans of schools and teams? If you moved here from out of state and adopted a local team, how come?

Here is a look at the varied responses ...

Way too much attention paid to pretty bad college football teams, but the college basketball atmosphere is pretty good. I can't say much about the fans of UNC or NC State, but Duke fans ... ugh. ...

Get a pro team here and build a stadium in the city. let's continue to make it a real, vibrant downtown. and keep up with the biking. the last bike first friday event had over 100 bikers! maybe we should make this the biking destination city of the southeast region. replicate some of the other greats like richmond and louisville--but of course we have rickshaws too, something they don't have!

... The Triangle is perfect for me. My wife went to Duke, and I live in Raleigh so I feel I must pull for State. The first NHL game I ever attended was in '06 against the Devils. I was impressed by all the Mike Commodore red wigs, robes and slipper outfits, the Dumb & Dumber guys swordfighting in the stands and the great character of the Carolina Hurricanes Organization and fell in love.

I think we would benefit tremendously by bringing professional sports to the Triangle... primarily baseball. I HATE not having a pro baseball team near. Wake is nearing 1M people... that's how many are in Cincinnati, Pgh, etc. They can support teams so we should, too! Sports fans here are fun and are not sore losers. We do cheer for local teams when Pitt college or pro teams aren't playing -- Raleigh is our home now and so we need to support the local teams, too!

From my perspective, NC State fans are more likely to have attended their college team of choice than North Carolina and Duke fans. UNC and Duke fans are more "bandwagon" fans. I LOVE the addition of the Hurricanes as our NHL team!

I think college football is on the rise for all the local teams, especially the Triangle teams. The basketball scene continues to be dominated by Carolina and Duke. Although Wake is showing great potential and NC State still has some growing to do. I really dislike Carolina fans because most of them are so apathetic to any other than Tarheel basketball. I really don't know many Duke or Wake fans. Wolfpack fans are the most passionate because we are starving for any kind of success.

Pro-football in Raleigh would be sweet. State is more accessible tickets-wise, but that may be due to lack of recent success. State fans are the least "fair weather", then UNC, then Duke. It is sad that UNC/Duke is a made for TV rivalry that misleads their fans into thinking the rest of the world cares. The NHL is major league, but it hasn't been treated that way by the national media since ESPN stopped carrying games, and the local media have followed like the lemmings they are. The Durham Bulls are ok, but it is a shame that they denied minor league baseball to Raleigh, a much larger city. The Railhawks are one level below MLS, but seem to not be covered as well at the Bulls, as little as that is.

I've moved away (moving back next month) for about 4 years. Don't see many state fans other than some car stickers every now and again but don't run into many. See the tar hole fans EVERYWHERE. They're plague can not be escaped and when it comes to discuss the holes they all seem to to have the same whining attitude of their head coach. However, after living in Atlanta and Columbia, SC there is no better college sports scene than the triangle. Unlike GA where it seems everyone is a fan of the dogs, NC has an equal split of fans that leads to great fun when you win and equal pain when you lose. GO PACK

I think the Triangle has a good mix of sports for a metro it's size. Due to all fo the support for college basketball, I don't think we could support an NBA team as well. With the Panthers in Charlotte, we just wont get an NFL team, and I don't see baseball expanding anytime soon either.

Duke and Carolina basketball fans are obnoxious and act like winning is a birthright.

If NC State would get their act together I think we would have a greater sports enviroment than what is here now.

It seems the media is biased toward the Dook-UNX rivalry and ignores the rest of the ACC when talking about basketball. As a State fan/grad, I would like for the Pack to have a better basketball program...over the last few years I find myself becoming for of a college football fan than a college basketball fan. Basketball is still #1 for me, but it's slipping in recent years. A lot of that has to do with performance on the field...I'm more excited about cheering for a good team and this translates into watching more of football than basketball as a result.

sports are over-rated and over-hyped. Instead of spending millions on stadiums and arenas we should have used the money for more worthy purposes.

I don't think you have as many bandwagon state fans as you do Tar Heels and Blue Devils... more State fans seem to have some sort of affiliation. Also, I LOVE a 'Canes game and it's really convenient how NCSU and the Hurricanes are played in and around the same venue. I am also a big NASCAR fan, but I couldn't pick two choices. We live in a great area because it's such a quick trip to Charlotte, Martinsville, Richmond, even Bristol to make a race!

As a UNC alum who teaches at NCSU and married an NCSU boy, I have to say that State fans have many, many conspiracy theories about their sports. The refs are all out to get them. There is a vast UNC conspiracy to keep them down. It drives me bonkers. And Duke fans are just plan obnoxious, all the way around.


Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey. We had our highest level of participation yet.

Finally, what do you take away from this survey? What does this say about the area? Do you think it's a pretty accurate assessment of sports in the Triangle?

A nice feature on Raleigh Denim

The great folks at New Raleigh have done a wonderful interview with Sarah and Victor Lytvinenko, the force behind Raleigh Denim who were, in their words, up until three months ago "just some punk kids making jeans that nobody thought were real." Oh, they're very real. (Read the entire interview here.)

A nice excerpt on "why Raleigh" ...

New Raleigh: Why here? Why Raleigh?

Sarah: This is where our friends and family are.

NR: But you branded your work “Raleigh” Denim. Why?

S: North Carolina has a rich textile history. It used to be the heartbeat of the denim industry, and there is all sorts of weaving and manufacturing here. We’re doing it our way. This is where we are. We don’t feel like we have to go to New York to be fashionable; being here is special and different.

Everything we use is from North Carolina—the thread, the denim, the zippers, the labels. We do everything in the studio—sewing, washing. We’re building off a heritage of craftsmanship. We wouldn’t stay here if there was nothing going on. The most sustainable and enjoyable way to do anything is to do it where you are, around people you like.

Victor: We could not have started this business anywhere else. ...

NR: Who are your heroes in Raleigh?

V: Vicki and Charles Phaneuf. We keep coming back to them as an example of how to run a business as a family.

S: Ann Marie Baum and Louis Cherry. They’re our mentors and friends.

V: We are so grateful. So, so, so, so, so– I’m getting teary–

S: Aw.

V: ...to all the people of raleigh who have supported us. Up until three months ago we were just some punk kids making jeans that nobody thought were real, and for almost two years a lot of people supported that.

S: That’s another reason we love Raleigh.

NR: What are your favorite places to eat or drink?

S: Foundation and Poole’s. The Busy Bee now sometimes. Raleigh Times if I want a big salad.

V: We are economists here.

S: Plus, it’s all local!

Kudos to the Downtown Ambassadors; quasi-kudos to the R Line

I took the R Line for the second and third time the other night and was pleasantly surprised to see it fairly full of people making their way around Downtown Raleigh. Sure, it was a Saturday, but it was also only about 5 p.m. -- much earlier than when it is most frequently used, from what I understand.*

It was also nice to see a mix of people using the R at that time: there was a family on board who appeared to be from out of town; there were locals who knew each other on board; and there were folks going out for dinner and drinks.

We were on our way to the ESS Lounge for a party. When we got about one stop away from where we had gotten on, my wife realized her bracelet had fallen off, most likely at the previous R Line stop. We just happened to be sitting next to a gentleman with the Downtown Raleigh Ambassadors program.

"Where did you get on the bus?" he asked.

"At R1, Wilmington Street."

He got on his radio, and within a few minutes another Ambassador was at our previous stop, looking for my wife's bracelet.**

We were both blown away by how wonderful the Ambassadors program is. What a terrific service to have in Downtown Raleigh. (They will escort you to your car if you are concerned about safety -- and if you give them enough notice ahead of time. The phone number is 919.368.7962.) I can't be more pleased with this program.

As for the R itself ... it appears to still be experiencing some growing pains. Two things jumped out at us on Saturday.

First, it appears that the buses stop at the Convention Center for up to 5 minutes each time. I'm not sure what the reason is behind this -- there certainly weren't people waiting for it each time we arrived there. It just seems like if the bus is going to stop for that long each time, then it could make so many more trips around downtown in an hour and a day. (If someone can fill me in on why it does that, please do!)

The other negative thing that happened was a bus just flew right past us as a large group of us waited. And apparently R Line buses have done this before. After the first bus passed us by, we waited for the next one in the Warehouse District, hopped on board and then a couple stops later we waited at the Convention Center for the required 4-5 minutes. By the time we got to our home stop (R1, Wilmington Street again), a good 45 minutes had passed; we'd been better off walking.

However, all in all, I am still a big fan of what the R Line brings to DTR. Here's to hoping that it continues to improve on efficiency. I've heard rumors that the stops will soon have clocks on them to tell you how far away is the next bus. This would be a great addition to an already-nice addition to our great city.

*Also heard a story last week of a group of Greensboro-area elementary students who took the train from Greensboro to Raleigh, hopped the R to the museums and back and then hopped the train back to Greensboro. That brings a smile to my face.

**As for the bracelet ... several stops later, I stood up to make sure it hadn't fallen on the floor of the R Line and -- whalah! -- there it was, underneath me. In fact, the Ambassador (can't believe I forgot his name!) found it when I stood up.

(Images from GoDowntownRaleigh.com)

Triangle to host World Cup matches?

(Saw this over at SectionSix.)

Apparently representatives from the Raleigh-Durham area are showing interest in our region hosting World Cup soccer matches in either 2018 or 2022. (Note: the list of cities and venues at the bottom of the linked page does NOT list the Triangle ... yet.)

"Public officials and executives representing 58 major stadiums in the U.S. last week formally confirmed interest in playing host to FIFA World Cup™ matches in 2018 or 2022 ...

"The respondents represent 58 venues in 49 metropolitan markets, ranging in size from New York City, where the new Meadowlands Stadium will open in 2010 in nearby East Rutherford, N.J., to college town markets from coast to coast. Three new candidates also reached out to the USA Bid Committee to express their interest, including Las Vegas, Nev., which currently does not offer a suitable stadium but requested to be included as a market for consideration. ...

"In 1994, the U.S. used nine stadiums to host the FIFA World Cup™, which then featured a 24-team and 52-match format compared to today’s field of 32 nations competing in 64 matches. Despite the smaller field and schedule of matches in 1994, the United States set an overall attendance mark of 3,587,538, a record that broke the previous tournament mark by more than one million fans and still stands today.

"Representatives from the Las Vegas, Nev. and the Raleigh-Durham markets, as well as Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah – none of them included in the original list of 70 venue and market candidates – have requested to be considered as hosts in 2018 or 2022. Twelve stadiums declined to be considered as potential candidates while conversations continue with representatives of two stadiums as local officials there explore various venue feasibility issues before confirming their interest. ...

"The United States, Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia have formally declared their desire to host to the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022. Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Qatar and South Korea have applied as candidates to play host only to the tournament in 2022. ..."

America's bid has been accentuated with an endorsement from President Obama in a letter to FIFA.

“Hosting another successful World Cup is important for the continued growth of the sport in the United States. And it is important to me personally,” wrote the president. “As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together. As a father, I saw that same spirit of unity alive on the fields and sidelines of my own daughters’ soccer games in Chicago.

“Soccer is truly the world’s sport, and the World Cup promotes camaraderie and friendly competition across the globe. That is why this bid is about much more than a game. It is about the United States of America inviting the world to gather all across our great country in celebration of our common hopes and dreams.”

I'm guessing that the area's college football facilities would be the primary potential game sites: Carter-Finley, Kenan, Wallace Wade. WakeMed Park is quite literally perfect for soccer, but World Cup matches would be just too big for that facility, particularly with the number of European expats and Hispanics in our community now.

Here's to hoping that A) the U.S. wins a bid, and that B) the Triangle's not too late getting into the hosting game.

(Obama t-shirt design from Who Are Ya Designs)

Schoolkids to open digital music store

Music.MyNC.com has a post that Schoolkids Records will unveil its online music store on May 1.

"Customers will be able to purchase and download music from Schoolkids without having to go to the Hillsborough Street location. This is awesome news for the iPod generation, but a bummer for those of us who still appreciate holding a physical copy of an album," says the site.

"The new site is being developed by the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and ThinkIndie. The ThinkIndie Web site links to http://www.schoolkidsrecords.com; so more than likely that will be the goto site for all of your digital indie needs."

As "Dickee" commented on an older post about Schoolkids, it is great "that we still have a local record shop. There is nothing like going in and leaving with something tangible in your hands in a matter of minutes. I will always remain faithful to a business such as this. Come on people, cd's and vinyl are the way to go."

Perhaps, but it looks like Schoolkids is trying to join the bulk of the music-buying community these days, and for that I commend them.

Downtown Living Advocates announced; Solas to get retractable roof

I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful event last night atop the roof of Solas that was hosted by The Glenwood Agency and, I believe, DowntownRaleigh.com.

Two things that came out of that event (aside from how nice the rooftop is) was that a retractable roof is on the way for Solas - which should help retain the rooftop's popularity even into the fall and winter -- and that a new organization has been formed, the Downtown Living Advocates (DLA).

The Downtown Living Advocates (DLA) was founded by a group of passionate residents that share the same enthusiasm in advancing downtown Raleigh. Our mission is to be an organized voice of residents and to encourage resident to resident communication. The DLA is one voice that will communicate, advocate and educate our residents in promoting a residential neighborhood with an attractive living environment. We as residents of downtown Raleigh, need to communicate our successes and our stories to make our community a strong and vibrant place to grow.

The DLA would like to invite residents that share the same passion in advancing our neighborhood to be a part of our mission by contacting us via email at downtownlivingadvocates@downtownraleigh.com.

Raleigh Hall of Fame inductees announced

The newest inductees into the Raleigh Hall of Fame were recently announced. They will be honored on Sept. 24 at the new Raleigh Convention Center.

While this year's class doesn't have perhaps the [relative/local] star factor as previous classes, it is a strong one nonetheless, led by Clarence E. Lightner, Raleigh's first African-American mayor and a civil rights leader. He is jointed by (according to the N&O) ...

-Sherwood H. Smith Jr.: business leader, advocate for education and philanthropist.

-Mabel J. Dorsey: historic preservationist and catalyst for the restoration of the L.L. Polk House and Historic Yates Mill.

-Dr. Powell Graham "P.G." Fox Jr.: driving force behind the development of the Duke Raleigh Hospital Campus.

-Marion Poyner: business leader, statesman, philanthropist and civic servant.

-Karl Grier Hudson Jr.: business and civic leader, philanthropist and champion for civil rights.

-Margaret Rose Murray: catalyst for equal access to quality education and founder of Vital Link Private School for children with disabilities.

-Victor E. Bell Jr.: community leader, advocate for civil rights and founding leader of the College Foundation.

-Cyrus B. and Carolyn S. King: committed to peace and non-violence, justice and respect for human rights.

-Richard Alexander Urquhart, Jr.: founder of the Country Club of North Carolina and volunteer leader at Rex Hospital.

-Betty Lee Tiddy Moore and C. Durham Moore Jr.: co-founders of the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.

-Rotary Club of Raleigh: North Carolina's oldest community service club.

-YMCA of the Triangle: 150 years of broad-based community outreach, serving more than 76,000 local residents each year.

In addition, Jane Simpson McKimmon will be honored in the Centennial Hall of Fame category. McKimmon was a "champion of continuing education and driving force behind the development of the Home Demonstration Program in North Carolina."

It's SmartCommute time again

Take the Challenge. I have yet again.

The SmartCommute Challenge is an annual non-profit public service campaign that works to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the Triangle.

From April 15 through May 30, any employee or college student who commutes to work or campus in Wake, Durham, or Orange County can participate. To enter the Challenge, make your online pledge that at least once before May 30 you will carpool, vanpool, bike or walk, ride the bus, or telework (work from home).

Everyone who takes the Challenge will be entered into a drawing to win one of several PRIZES, including $2,500 cash!

I must admit that I feel bittersweet about this challenge. When this first started several years ago, I was VERY confident that I would win at least one prize. I just couldn't imagine that there were THAT many people participating. Here we are, several years later, and no prize. I guess that means there's great participation, which is good. Maybe this is the year for me ... fingers crossed!

Dōmo arigatō, Mr. Gov. Hunt, sir

私は本を得てもいいか。

I had been hearing rumblings about this fantastic new feature of the upcoming James B. Hunt Library on N.C. State's Centennial Campus. But it sounds much cooler than I ever imagined.

There will be no stacks to wander, at least for humans. Instead, books will be densely packed inside a dark room where four robots will retrieve them when someone requests them via computer.

"This will set us apart from every other campus in the country," said trustee Gayle S. Lanier of Raleigh.

The $126 million library was unveiled during a meeting of the trustees' Buildings and Property Committee, which reviews all major construction projects on the campus. That committee has long struggled to bring more visual pizzazz to a campus dominated by straightforward brick architecture, but without adding buildings that don't fit in or that cost too much.

"We've been joking that you've been asking for a building that's not a brick box, and the Hunt Library will be neither of those," said Michael Harwood, university architect.

"This," he said, setting up large drawings of the building for the committee to see, "is the unbrick-not-a-box." ...

The automated book retrieval system is one of a handful of its kind in the U.S. It's not just a technological gimmick: It will reduce the amount of space needed for book storage to a fraction of the normal amount, opening more room for students to work and study. ...

One other suggestion, if I may, from a proud alum. Can we have El Debarge playing "Whose Johnny?" in the background. And I don't mean a recording; I think for a marginal price we could get them to play it live, 24-7!

Dōmo arigatō, Mr. Roboto, indeed.

(Image of the library from NCSU, via the N&O)

'What is (still) the deal with N.C. State?'

In June of last year we pontificated on the ability for N.C. State to produce some pretty darn funny people. One of the ones mentioned was Mike Haun. (Full disclosure: he's an old roomie of mine.)

Somehow -- God knows how -- I left off the brilliant Zach Galifinakis. My buddy Mike pointed this out to me. Mike also pointed out a couple other funnymen who have Wolfpack ties, including Bill Burr (if you've ever watched "Chappelle's Show," you'll recognize him) and the Atlanta-based Mike Speenberg. (Here's a shot of Speenberg and fellow State alum Jon Reep.)

So there. Go Pack.

Raleigh Curios-city: Sacred Heart

This is a new feature to shed the light on some of the more, uh, unique aspects of Raleigh. Know of something that Raleigh has that no other place does -- be it a building, a organization, a group or whatever? Then tell us about it!


America's Smallest Cathedral
The city of Raleigh is home to what many consider the smallest cathedral in the United States, Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Located at 200 Hillsborough Street downtown, the Late Gothic Revival building was designed by Reverend Father Michael. S. B., of Belmont Abbey, according to this site.

Goodnight, Raleigh! has more (along with photos).

... Raleigh’s Catholic population grew following the Civil War, and the inadequate space and poor condition of the building soon became an issue. For a time in the 1870s Mass was held in a meeting hall in the Briggs Hardware building on Fayetteville St. Then in 1879, Fr. James White purchased the Brian Grimes homeplace on Hillsboro St., and the parish of Sacred Heart Church was established. He expanded the mansion so that it could be better utilized as both as a church and rectory.

In 1899 Fr. Thomas Griffin was appointed pastor, a position he held for 31 years. During his tenure a parochial school was established in 1909, and the church campus was later expanded with the addition of a rectory and convent. In 1922 the cornerstone of Sacred Heart Church was laid, and the neo gothic stone building was completed in August of 1924.

At that time, North Carolina was the only state in the union without its own Catholic diocese. The move to create one had been anticipated by the Catholic leadership in the state for some time, and large, ornate basillica churches had been erected in both Asheville –St Lawrence, and in Wilmington –St Mary, in hopes of acquiring the status of ‘cathedral.’ However, as these cities were at opposite ends of the state, Rome decided the seat, or cathedra, of the bishop of the new diocese should be in a more central location – so Raleigh, instead, was chosen. Thus, in December 1924, a mere four months after Sacred Heart Church had been completed, it became Sacred Heart Cathedral, the seat of the newly created Diocese of Raleigh, with the Most Reverend William Hafey of Baltimore as its first Bishop. His authority as bishop extended over the entire state of North Carolina.

Shop local, Raleigh!

A neighbor of mine (a small business owner) passed along an email the other night that states that the Greater Raleigh Merchant's Alliance has apparently launched a new initiative -- and this website -- to encourage folks to consider shopping at locally-owned businesses.

The site includes lists of local restaurants, services, retailers, etc. It also includes a top 10 reasons to shop local:

1. Buy local to support yourself
2. Keep our community unique
3. Be eco-friendly
4. Create more jobs
5. Get better service
6. Put your taxes to good use
7. Invest in the community
8. Support community groups
9. Promote competition and diversity
10. Encourage future investment

It also includes facts about why you should shop local such as the fact that for every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $68 stays in the local economy, compared with just $43 if spent at a national chain.

One small step ...

... toward regional transit improvements.

A North Carolina legislative committee has approved a plan allowing the state's second- and third-largest metro areas to expand mass transit systems if voters approve raising local sales taxes [according to the AP].

The House Finance Committee voted 19-6 on Wednesday to advance the bill to a House floor vote.

The bill would allow voters in Forsyth, Guilford, Wake, Durham and Orange counties to decide whether to increase local sales taxes by half a cent and car registration fees by up to $2, piggybacking onto Mecklenburg County's popular experiment with light rail. ...

The committee added a provision allowing Research Triangle Park to increase property taxes on its tenant companies to pay for transit.

NCSU grad's firm to design Smithsonian's African American museum

From WRAL.com ...

The architectural group responsible for San Francisco's Museum of the African Diaspora (pictured) will design the new black history museum on the National Mall in Washington.

A Smithsonian Institution jury announced the pick Tuesday. The firm Freelon Adjaye Bond in association with SmithGroup proposed a layered, glowing structure topped with a bronze crown.

Durham-based Freelon Group, led by Philip Freelon, was part of the winning bid. The firm also was selected last month with partner HOK of Atlanta to design the $125 million Center for Civil & Human Rights in Atlanta. ...

The institution, scheduled to open in 2015, will be called the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It could be the final museum added to the expanse between the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument.

Freelon is the husband of jazz singer Nnenna Freelon.

(Image of Frefrom the firm's website)

(Not 'The') Technician: Minor changes to NCSU traditions book

Unfortunately, N.C. State University has seen a lot of its traditions die or be killed in the past couple of decades*: Wolfstock, winning athletic teams, Lawn Party, Brent Road, winning athletic teams, campout (sometimes), etc. (Did I mention winning athletic teams?) Another possible victim could be the Free Expression Tunnel. (No surprise there.)

But, oddly enough, just as traditions seem to be few and far between, there is now literature at State that discusses the school's traditions. I would've LOVED to have had a copy of this during my years at State.

The Brick, a guidebook to the history and traditions of N.C. State distributed at convocation, will include copies from last year as well as 1,500 new copies which will cost $8,500 to print, according to Deb Luckadoo, director of Campus Activities.

Due to the Free Expression Tunnel incident following the election of President Barack Obama, an updated version will be printed to include a short statement regarding the results of the Campus Culture Task Force. ...

Luckadoo said the idea of the new copies is to include updates. She said last year's copy of The Brick featured the Free Expression Tunnel in two different sections, Traditions and Landmarks.

"In the updated version, the Free Expression Tunnel will only be seen in the Landmarks section," she said. ...

In addition to the Yow reference and Free Expression Tunnel statement, Luckadoo said the new copies will include sections on Homecoming and the Inter-Residence Council.

According to Luckadoo, The Brick is supposed to serve as a history book to incoming students.

"They will show their kids, nieces and nephews 30 to 40 years from now and say look at N.C. State."

Luckadoo said rather than throwing out copies from last year, some students will recieve a non-updated copy while others will recieve an updated copy. ...

Ann Babcock, a freshman in textile engineering, said as an out-of-state student, The Brick taught her more about N.C. State than what she learned on her campus tour.

"[The Brick] is good because it gets freshmen excited about everything the school has," she said.

Babcock said she kept her copy but many students do not.

"Lots of them get thrown out by people who don't care about it, but for people who do care it's really interesting," she said.

Hey, if you're a State student who got a copy and just doesn't want it, send it my way.

Hopefully more and more people will care about State's traditions. Some of the older traditions may come and go, but that doesn't mean new ones (yeah, yeah -- there's no such thing) can't be born. And maybe one day they'll make it into The Brick.


*In all fairness, there are a couple of things that have happened in recent years to add to State's traditions. An "unofficial" one is, of course, the Krispy Kreme Challenge. Another is the creation of ONE class ring for everyone. In fact, rings are kept overnight in the Bell Tower the night before they are given out in order to infuse the rings with the school's esprit de corps. Pretty cool. And all this hubbub about actually putting bells in the bell tower has seemingly brought the students and alums together.

Additionally, the use of the wolf hand sign at sporting events is something that has increased over the past 20 years or so. And Homecoming has improved over the past several years. But do students still hang out in the steam tunnels beneath campus? Do folks still talk about the "hidden" entrance to the tunnels accessible from the Court of North Carolina? Is train-jumping still common? Is The Hike still big? Us old fogies want to know!

(Seal image from Wikipedia)

A Raleigh first

So this is what all the fuss/buzz was about the other day. (And, no, it's not Raleigh becoming the first all-LED city, unfortunately.) ...

Mobile digital television broadcasting joined forces with public transit on April 13 as the City of Raleigh and WRAL, the CBC New Media Group, launched the first public deployment of mobile digital TV in a Capital Area Transit (CAT) bus.

The announcement was made April 13 in front of the Raleigh Convention Center on Salisbury Street, the very spot from which the City initiated the Downtown Circulator just two months ago.

The new venture delivers real-time digital television and interactive data to CAT buses. CAT bus passengers will be able to view WRAL’s local and syndicated programming throughout the day. Additionally, the screens will offer CAT passengers city news, real-time schedules, route specific updates and other useful information on the digital screens that are strategically placed inside buses.

“Once again, Raleigh is unveiling a technology first,” said Mayor Charles Meeker. “We are proud to be the pilot to offer mobile digital television to the riders of the Downtown Circulator. ...

Click here for the rest of the release from the city.

Playoff fever infects the Triangle (again)

Hard to believe it's been three seasons since your Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup -- then failed to make the playoffs for the two seasons that followed. (The Canes actually made history by becoming the first franchise to miss the postseason the next two seasons after winning the cup.)

But here they are again, back in the playoffs -- and playing quite well, thank you very much, despite a loss to end the regular season.

Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice says every game in the Stanley Cup playoffs is "absolutely like Christmas Day" [according to the N&O].

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2006, the Canes missed out on all the fun the last two years. But the Hurricanes are back in the playoffs again, hoping to rev up the Caniacs, rock the RBC Center and make another run at the championship.

If it's the playoffs, the Canes must be playing the New Jersey Devils -- and they are, for the fourth time this decade. Carolina will open the playoffs either Wednesday or Thursday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Go Canes!

It's not quite Poe's Visitor, but it's close

Most folks know about the mysterious person who visits Edgar Allen Poe's grave each January 19 to leave cognac and roses on the writer's grave. But Raleigh has its own, similar annual tradition, as Josh Shaffer with the N&O and Goodnight, Raleigh! have both discussed.

Wrote Josh last year: "Each April, a stranger creeps into Oakwood Cemetery and drapes a single gravestone with a black sash. He lights a candle in tribute to a doomed Confederate hanged for firing a last-ditch shot at Raleigh’s Yankee occupiers. … After 20 years, the soldier’s secret admirer remains a small-time legend among history buffs who like to guess at his identity. The guessing begins anew each April 13, the death date of the hotheaded Texan with no known first name."

GNR's John Morris discussed it further recently -- even snapping a photo of the grave "decorated" (shown).

"As I’ve come to know it, Raleigh surrendered to Union troops without a fight. Despite this, the city and the surrounding area are rich in Civil War history, in addition to the Confederate Cemetery. ...

"Although I wasn’t able to solve the mystery of the stranger decorating the grave, I have to say that it was pretty exciting to see the decorated tombstone in person, for the first time. It’s possible I missed the person(s) by a matter of minutes, or hours. ..."

What is this all about?

From a city email ...

The City of Raleigh
Invites you to enjoy your coffee break Tuesday, April 14
celebrating a local partnership that is producing a significant
"FIRST IN THE U.S.A."

10 a.m., Tuesday, April 14
Raleigh Convention Center

Any thoughts?

Local oval stickers

While searching for something completely unrelated earlier, I came across this site, which features loads of oval, European-style auto decals for cities, beaches, nations, breeds of dogs -- whatever.

The state of North Carolina is well represented here, as is the Triangle as a whole.

There's the standard Raleigh one.












There's one for Clayton, Apex and even Holly Springs.












There's even one for area lakes ...












... and our international airport, apparently.















Well, this one's not Raleigh-related, but I'm not exactly sure what this one is supposed to symbolize. I may not *want* to know.

Dix Hill park may have to wait a while longer

According to WRAL.com, the "state mental health facility in Raleigh formerly known as Dorothea Dix Hospital will continue to provide limited care for at least the next three years to patients of Central Regional Hospital, the state's new psychiatric hospital.

"Lanier Cansler, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said Wednesday that the facility, now a subsidiary campus of Central Regional, will continue to serve as a 60-bed psychiatric care overflow unit as well as continue housing children and adolescents who need long-term care."

While this means the idea of a city park at Dix Hill may have to wait a while, it's probably for the best for the folks who need help.

Dix was supposed to close last year and patients were to move to Central Regional, but a judge issued a temporary restraining order in September that delayed the move indefinitely. Patient advocacy groups asked for the order because of long-expressed safety concerns about the new facility in Butner.

The decision to keep Dix open is part of a new plan that, Cansler said, would fully utilize all of Central Regional's facilities.

Children and adolescents receiving short-term care at both Dix and John Umstead Hospital, another subsidiary campus of Central Regional, will move to a 72-bed children's unit at Central Regional, under the plan. ...

Patient advocacy group Disability Rights North Carolina supports Cansler's plan, executive director, Vicki Smith, said Wednesday. ...

The bell tower actually needs bells

This reminds me: I need to purchase a t-shirt.

North Carolina State University students are launching an effort to finish the bell tower. The tower was supposed to hold 54 bells, but was never finished because of the Great Depression [says WRAL.com].

“The memorial is incomplete as it stands,” said Matthew Robbins, an N.C. State graduate student in architecture.

The tower was built as a memorial to the university's 33 World War I dead. The iconic structure was partially completed by 1922. As time passed, alumni tried to raise money to complete the tower, but it was never enough.

After the Great Depression, the government provided the funds to finish the structure, but the bells were never installed. The sound of bells is simulated and piped through a set of speakers at the top of the tower.

“To the alumni, it's sacred ground – it's a memorial. To the students, it's a landmark, it's a gravitation point,” Robbins said. ...

The tradition of the tower was why students Krystal Matthews and Josh Kinlaw decided to take their engagement photos there.

“It shows how special it is that they light it up in red whenever we win a game. It just goes to show what it means to the university,” Kinlaw said.

Robbins and some other students are trying to raise enough money to install the 54 bells that were part of the original design. Some students who are part of the Class of 2010 want the bell's completion to be their gift to the school.

“I can't think of a more worthy cause for the seniors to donate to this year,” student Jay Dawkins said.

As the article says, if you would like to donate to the bell, contact the www.ncsubells.com or send an email to ncstatebells@gmail.com. Students are selling t-shirts to raise money.

School growth forum to be held May 12

From an email I received last night ...

Achieving Educational Excellence in Times of Challenge and Change: How Should Wake County Schools Plan for Growth and the Current Economic Crisis?
Tuesday, May 12
7-9:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30)
McKimmon Center, NCSU

Speakers and panelists include:

Tom Oxholm, co-author, "A School District's Journey to Excellence"
Ann Dellinger, chair, Wake Education Partnership
N.C. Rep. Nelson Dollar
Wake County Commissioner Stan Norwalk
And others

For a complete agenda and to register (encouraged, not required), go to http://wakeupwakecounty.com/cms/

It's the (second-)most wonderful time of the year

As we discussed earlier, we're now getting into a wonderful time of the year to live, work and play in Raleigh. This was crystal clear this past weekend with so much going on around Downtown. (It didn't hurt that the weather was spectacular.)

The 'Cuegrass Festival and Spring Music Festival produced a nice buzz around town all day (both symbolically and audibly) that just says that there is "stuff" going on. Throw in a nice bike rally, a worldwide pillow fight and - again -- that weather, and it was truly a great day to be alive.

I did something I rarely do anymore: tried out a new establishment downtown! In fact, the wife and I hit THREE of them on Saturday night.

First, we hit the Boylan Brewpub. I had heard mixed reviews about the place, with some complaining that it doesn't have music or TVs. (I've also heard that that's "the point.") It was a perfect evening for sitting along Boylan and enjoying Raleigh's ever-growing skyline. We enjoyed a couple of beers, but the night air got a big nippy, so we made our way to The Oxford. Unfortunately, it was just crowded enough (for the Final Four games) that all the seats were taken but not crowded enough that it would've been OK to stand, so we left.

Just a few steps away, we went down into the belly of Fayetteville Street to The Foundation (membership needed). This may be our favorite local bar. It serves mostly local or North Carolina drinks, and its cozy atmosphere makes it feel like a neighborhood joint. In fact, we ran into two different sets of neighbors.

We stayed there longer than we should have, and hurried home to relieve the sitter, fully satisfied and enjoying life.

(Boylan Brewpub image from NewRaleigh.com)

Another thing to do this weekend

If you are in the market for some great, cheap items, then head down to the Cooke Street Greenway on Saturday, from 8 a.m. until noon, for a multi-family yard sale.

The Greenway is just east of Historic Oakwood. You can read more about the yard sale here: http://raleigh. craigslist. org/gms/11011213 98.html

The yard sale will take place along the greenway in front of the 100, 200, and 300 block of Cooke St. in downtown Raleigh. Some of the items available include a printer, a tuner, a CD player, a bookcase, an external CD recorder, a paper shredder, clothes, books, etc.

If nothing else, if you don't get to that part of Raleigh often, take a look: some beautiful houses are going up in the heart of Raleigh.

Spring is in the air

We're starting to get into the time of year where Raleigh really comes alive. A quick glance at the Downtown Raleigh Alliance's emailed newsletter shows that the City of Oaks will be chock-full of things to do in the coming months.

A few highlights (in my opinion) ...

-Give & Take: An Artspace After Dark Event, April 2, 7-10 p.m. ($10 per ticket)
"Artspace will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Artspace Summer Arts Program. Give & Take is a casual spring fundraiser featuring 50 works of art for $50 each to support Artspace’s goal of providing 50 scholarships to the Artspace Summer Arts Program. Guests will enjoy music by DJ Madcow, hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Green Planet Catering, wine, and beer.

-'Cuegrass Festival, outside of The Pit, April 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
"The Pit Authentic Barbecue restaurant will hold its inaugural ‘Cuegrass Festival with event proceeds benefiting Feed The Farm, a local non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to N.C. farmers in need.

"The ‘Cuegrass Festival promises to be a fun-filled family event, featuring live bluegrass music performances by three North Carolina bands -- Old Habits, Filmore Valley Boys and Town Mountain...."

-Spring Mustic Festival, April 4, Depot Parking Lot, all day long, $15 online, $20 at the door
"The event will offer a variety of musical performances on the main stage as well as at surrounding venues including Mosquito, Ess Lounge, The Office, White Collar Crime and Deep South The Bar, all of which is included with the purchase of a festival ticket. ..."

-Planet Earth Celebration, April 18, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
"The NC Museum of Natural Sciences and Burt’s Bees are teaming up again for the second annual Planet Earth Celebration. The free event, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of environmentally responsible living, will take place rain or shine.

"Visitors can turn trash into treasure at the Kids Zone; experience eco-smart shopping in the Green Bazaar, and listen to Don "The Junkman" Knaack as he jams on instruments made from 100% recycled materials. New attractions include Burt's Bees 'Happy Burt Day' Bonanza Tent sale (in celebration of their 25th anniversary), Whole Foods' 'Bag Out in Style' Fashion Show, and the all inclusive Trash Parade. ..."

Other items of interest:
-The Moore's Square Farmer's Market returns on Wednesday, April 15
-Smart Commute Challenge starts back up April 15
-World Beer Festival, May 2