Unfortunate setback for SE Raleigh

A much-needed planned golf course development for Southeast Raleigh has reportedly been scratched.

WRAL reports that Olde Towne, which was to be a "cornerstone of redevelopment efforts in southeast Raleigh," will not happen -- at least not anytime soon -- as the developer let the property fall into foreclosure.

Olde Towne was slated to occupy 600 acres at Rock Quarry and New Hope roads, and was to include hundreds of upscale homes and 500,000 square feet of retail space. Although much of the land has been cleared, nothing was ever built.

Ohio-based National City Bank took possession of the property last month after Greystone Development, the project's Baltimore-based developer, defaulted on a loan.

The phone at Greystone's local office has been disconnected, and officials couldn't be reached Monday for comment.

Tyler Toulon, a real estate broker and former member of the Raleigh Planning Commission, said Olde Towne was a key component of the 20-year plan for the area. The development's collapse jeopardizes future growth in the area, he said.

"The rest of Raleigh – north, east, west, all areas – have developed significantly. Southeast has not," Toulon said.

Toulon is on the money. Even when there has been progress in that part of town, it has been counterbalanced by what many view as not much in the way of "progress."

'I can't wait to tell people about this place!' - July 2009 edition

Well, after not doing one of these for about a year, I can safely say that I'm on a roll. (Well, a roll for me, that is.)

Friday night, the missus, a couple of good friends and yours truly hit not one, not two, but THREE new places. (They were all new to me, at least.)

First stop was The Mint for a pre-dinner drink at the upstairs bar. I was surprised at how small the bar was, but it was certainly nice enough, definitely more classy than the places I typically hit. The service was fine and the drink prices were more than fair. I was mildly surprised at how dead the restaurant below was for 7 o'clock on a Friday night. I hate to say it, but I'll be shocked if it's open another six months. It pains me to see any establishment struggle, but that's my guess, I guess.

We then walked a couple of blocks over to Gravy for dinner. The Empire Eats joint was jam-packed (unlike The Mint), and the computer was down so service was a "tad" slow. (Our pleasant waitress apologized profusely, but in all honesty, the service was about what you'd expect for a busy restaurant on a Friday night.) Gravy is part of the Bella Monica family and, to be honest, I tend to prefer the "original" establishment, even if it's not close enough to walk to and is located in a strip mall. Oddly enough, Bella Monica feels to me more like a neighborhood restaurant than does Gravy.

As for the meal, we started out with the veal sliders (I enjoyed them, though one of the three ended up not being eaten at all for some reason) and the fried risotto cakes which were a big hit. My entree was the baked ziti, which I highly recommend. The wife got the eggplant rollatine; it was what she had the first time she tried Gravy, so methinks she likes it.

Our last stop was Global Toast, a new bar on the south end of downtown. We didn't realize it until we got there, but it is apparently the "hotel bar" for the Sheraton. No worries. It was a nice spot to conclude the night, and it was busy enough to feel somewhat "happenin.'" In fact, there seemed to be a number of regulars there which, to me, is a good sign for a bar.

Been anywhere new -- or new to you -- lately?

(Photo of The Mint's bar from website)

More Krispy Kreme options (including one on F Street)

According to an email I received from Krispy Kreme (yes, I am that kind of guy), the new Krispy Kreme Neighborhood Shop & Kremery will open in Knightdale on August 3rd. That in and of itself is exciting. But for us DTRers, the other exciting part is the "PS" at the bottom.

To wit: "We're opening a second Neighborhood Shop & Kremery on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh in October!"

Nice.

For your info, the Knightdale location will be at 6727 Shoppes of Midway Drive. The Kremery " will feature our newest menu item, Kool Kreme® soft serve. Kool Kreme comes in satisfying flavors like DEEP Chocolate and VERY Vanilla with tasty toppings like classic hot fudge and fruit toppings, Butterfinger® and OREO® cookie pieces. At our newest location, you'll be able to get our mouth-watering Doughnut Sundae-- an Original Glazed® doughnut smothered in Very Vanilla Kool Kreme and topped with chocolate sauce."

To recap: nice.

Congrats to our Outdoor Living Contest winner!

Congratulations to Kelley Dennings for winning our "Share your thoughts on summer living in Raleigh Contest." Kelley's comments to that post were randomly selected to win a prize from All Modern.

Kelley has chosen the Zack Rocco Watering Can (pictured) as her prize. We'd like to thank everyone who commented and thus participated in the contest, and special thanks to Jamie Sward and All Modern for partnering with us on this contest.

We received a number of great thoughts on the best way to enjoy the outdoors during the hot summer months in Raleigh: free concerts in Moore Square; listening to the nighttime critters from your porch or deck; walking the greenways; al fresco dining; and much more.

Kelley mentioned two favorite things about Raleigh outdoors during the summer: "The free outside yoga at Fred Fletcher park on Saturday mornings and/or at Shelley Lake on Sunday mornings" and "[w]alking our dogs on all the different greenways. We have a large map and check them off as we complete different parts."

Congrats again, Kelley!

Your Raleigh Bucket List?

I came across this posting on Southern Living's website, listing several "things to do before you die" items in the South. The one Triangle area event that made this list of things to do before you kick the bucket (thus the term) was seeing "fabulous art" such as that that is available at Duke University's Nasher Museum of Art in Durham. That's it, specifically, for the Raleigh area.

Some are rather nebulous and could be done in Raleigh, such as "Sit on a screened porch on a summer night and 'just listen to the music made by the bugs and the night birds' " or "meet incredible Southerners" or discover some of the "South's great music" or "feast on North Carolina pork barbecue." And of course there is NCAA basketball and football.

We've discussed Raleigh "must-sees" before, particularly in relation to out-of-towners. But if you had to put together your Raleigh Bucket List, what all would be on it?

For me, I'm reducing it to those things I have yet to do and feel like I should. These aren't necessarily the "must-see or -do" things that I would present to a visitor to Raleigh. Please feel free to add to it or create your own.

-Watch a play at the Raleigh Little Theater or Theater in the Park
-Take a Segway tour of downtown
-Tour the Capitol. (Yes, I live blocks from it but have never done this.)
-See a movie at the Rialto, most likely "Rocky Horror Picture Show." Just because.
-Actually go see a RailHawks game
-Have a beer and a sandwich at Sadlack's
-Take "full" part in the Krispy Kreme Challenge -- including eating the dozen doughnuts
-Enjoy the Kirby Derby

Water park 'near Raleigh' among the nation's best

Budget Travel has put together a list of the nation's best water parks (that seemingly includes EVERY water park). Included is Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro.

Wet 'n Wild is well-known for its speed chutes like Daredevil Drop, with a hair-raising 76-foot plunge, and Double Barrel Blast, a ride which ends abruptly in midair -- launching you from a four-foot edge before you hit the pool. Contrary to its name, Wet 'n Wild also lets you skip the water altogether: The Skycoaster combines the thrills of bungee-jumping and hang gliding, allowing up to three people at a time to experience the sensation of flying without getting even a little soggy.

However, for whatever reason, Budget Travel notes that Emerald Pointe is "near Raleigh (78 miles)."

Update: The Carolinas to gain an MLS franchise?

We've discussed this (remote) possibility before, but it appears there is at least some talk of the Carolinas getting a Major League Soccer franchise at some point.

The soccer site MLSRumors linked to two pieces, one from the Sports Business Journal and the other a Houston Dynamo site, that suggest that either North or South Carolina could land the soccer league's 19th or 20th franchise. At least, that is, the Carolinas are among the five finalists for one of the two slots. The other four finalists are Atlanta, St. Louis, Florida (possibly Miami) and Montreal.

From the Sports Biz Journal:

During the panel, [MLS Commissioner Don] Garber also talked about MLS expansion, saying he still expected the league to add two more teams in the coming years. He said he is interested in bringing franchises to Atlanta, the Carolinas, Florida, St. Louis or Montreal. Garber said the league is still interested in a second team in N.Y. ...

I've followed the face of MLS for some time now, and this -- aside from our mention several months ago -- is honestly the first time I've seen a printed report about a possible MLS team in the Carolinas. Most signs point to Montreal (based on the success of Toronto FC) being one of the expansion teams. The other slot is, quite honestly, a toss-up. MLS needs a Southeastern presence, but the Miami Fire wasn't exactly successful during its first run, and Atlanta doesn't appear to have solid backing at this point. St. Louis has great soccer grassroots, but still no private investment, that I know of.

As the Dynamo site mentions, there doesn't appear to be a public bid from anyone hoping to land a team in the Carolinas. And just where would such a team be located? The Triangle has a great soccer heritage, and the RailHawks appear to have solid support. But then again, so does the Charleston Battery, who have a fantastic stadium and fanbase.

Selfishly, I'd love for Raleigh to either get an MLS franchise or upgrade the Hawks. But I don't really think this is a possibility. Of course, 15 years ago, I never would've thought that hockey would've done OK here either.

Wait -- how is the NCSU Gum Wall not on this list?

This CNN Travel article mentions the most bacteria-infested tourist attractions around the world. Curiously, N.C. State University's Gum Wall is not among them (though another gum wall is).

Apparently, the editors at TripAdvisor.com pickd the five "germiest" tourist spots in the world.

Despite the H1N1 scare that went global this spring, tourists haven't stopped spitting out their gum and sticking it onto a wall already saturated with millions of gooey pieces, editors say. Nor do germ fears stop travelers from journeying to the pigeon-infested St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, where the birds often bestow droppings. ...

Though it is unlikely to get sick from visiting one of these places, health experts say germs are always a gamble. The more people who touch and visit a spot, the more germs there are in the mix, they say.

On this list are:
-The Blarney Stone in Ireland. "Last year, about 400,000 people kissed the stone, says a spokesman for Blarney Castle & Gardens. To do so, the person must be hung upside down to kiss the rock." I kissed it and I've yet to grow a third eye.

-Market Theater Gum Wall in Seattle. "The Gum Wall, also dubbed the Wall of Gum, is one of the strangest attractions in Pike Place Market, where visitors can go to watch fish throwers and see the original Starbucks."

" 'People will do artwork with the gum,' said Jay Hitt, the marketing director of the Market Theater. 'They write words on the wall, stick posters and business cards.' ..."

-St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy where "both tourists and pigeons flock." Thousands of the "dirty birds crowd the square sometimes leaving their droppings or attacking visitors. Some fearless visitors who aren't worried about germs snap pictures with the birds. But health experts warn that birds are notorious for carrying dangerous germs and viruses."

-Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood. "The sidewalk is littered with 246 celebrity hand and footprints that draw in 4.5 million visitors a year, many of whom put their own hands and feet on them. The site began as an accident in 1927 when Norma Talmadge, a famous actress 1920s, stepped into wet cement. Creator and owner of the theater, Sid Grauman, decided to make the hand and footprints a tradition."

-Oscar Wilde's Tomb, Paris. "It's an unusual site in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Author and playwright Oscar Wilde's body rests in a tomb speckled with lipstick marks from visitors from all over the world showing their literary appreciation. ... The kisses display a rainbow of colors -- so much so that travel experts say Oscar Wilde's name on the tomb can be hard to discern sometimes." Ewww.

Closer to home, the State Gum Wall can somewhat hold its own.

Spend 30 minutes under the railroad bridge on Dan Allen Drive, and a passer-by will wad up a piece of chewed gum, squish it onto the wall, then maybe garnish the wad with a cigarette butt or a dime [said the News & Observer's Josh Shaffer back in October]. At least 1,000 pieces stretch across 15 feet of concrete, green and yellow splotches stretched into flowers and faces.

Someone recently spelled "I Love You, Julia" near the bottom, a feat that took 16 chewed sticks, counting the heart. ...

Raleigh's wall has kin nationwide.

In Greenville, Ohio, the entire exterior of The Maid Rite Sandwich Shop is dotted with wads, including the take-out window. Its collection brought a mention on WeirdUS.com, along with the storied Mothman statue in Point Pleasant, W.Va., celebrating a mythical half-man, half-insect.

"I've been here 22 years," said Susan Grant, director of [NCSU] University Housing, "and it's been here 22 years. It's neat in some respects. It's a community project."

Our outdoor living contest is now closed

Note: This contest has now closed.

Just a reminder that today is the last day for you to participate in our "Share your thoughts on summer living in Raleigh Contest." .

To participate, go to this posting and comment on "What is your favorite thing to do/favorite thing about the outdoors in Raleigh during the summer" That's it. Nothing else.

By participating, the good folks at All Modern will randomly pick a name to win a terrific outdoor prize (your choice of the products listed on the aformentioned post). Need some silver yard globes? Or maybe a hip watering can? How 'bout a sleek birdhouse? Well, just by commenting on outdoor, summer Raleigh livin', you'll have a chance to win one of these or several other great prizes. Don't delay! Go here to enter your chance to win.

Ignite Raleigh to take place August 5

The Lincoln Theatre will be the site on August 5, from 7-9 p.m., for the inaugural Ignite Raleigh.

The air in Downtown Raleigh will be filled with fast-paced, high-minded ideas as Ignite Raleigh comes to the Lincoln Theatre ... This free event ... will bring together hundreds of members of the Raleigh community to ponder these revolutionary ideas and cheer on the community chosen speakers.

Ignite is about ideas. Ideas can change the world. And it takes less than five minutes to spread one.

Each presenter gets five minutes on stage with 20 slides that rotate automatically after 15 seconds Around the world communities have been coming together to share their ideas.

Presenters will be announced as it gets closer to Ignite time. One confirmed presenter will be acclaimed News & Observer photojournalist Shawn Rocco.The evening will also include musical entertainment. Already on schedule to perform are North Carolina-based comedy duo, Rhett and Link. These musicians, filmmakers and “Internetainers” are best known in this area for the BBQ song and for their commercial for "The Red House."

Hall receives Emmy nomination

Raleigh native Michael C. Hall, who plays lovable serial killer Dexter Morgan on the Showtime series “Dexter,” received an Emmy nomination today for lead actor in a drama series. | story

It is Hall’s third Emmy nomination and his second for “Dexter.” He was nominated for “Six Feet Under” in 2002.

“Dexter” received three nominations, including one for outstanding drama series. | Emmy nominations

Also nominated in Hall’s category were Jon Hamm for “Mad Men,” Bryan Cranston for “Breaking Bad,” Hugh Laurie for “House,” Gabriel Byrne for “In Treatment” and Simon Baker for “The Mentalist.”

Hall graduated from Ravenscroft High School in 1989.

Michael C. Hall: official site | imdb.com

More on an express train

An update on the (fingers crossed!) potential high-speed express train from Charlotte to D.C. (with a stop in the City of Oaks, of course).

The state Department of Transportation is aiming high, with a new list of requests for $4 billion in federal economic recovery funds to create fast and frequent train service between Charlotte and Washington [says the News & Observer's Bruce Siceloff].

The money would fund 90 proposed projects to double tracks, straighten curves, expand stations and build a shortcut between Richmond and Raleigh. Last week, state DOT officials outlined their requests for federal rail stimulus grants that will be announced starting this fall. ...

The Obama administration will distribute $8 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to start a nationwide network of high-speed trains and improved inter-city passenger service.

Obama also wants Congress to spend $1 billion a year on high-speed rail over the next five years. This week, House budget writers proposed $4 billion for next year alone. ...

North Carolina has plenty of competition for a share of the first $8 billion. Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, told a group of reporters in Washington that 40 states submitted wish lists last week for a combined $93 billion. ...

Big-ticket items on this list include $100 million to finish double-tracking the N.C. Railroad line between Greensboro and Charlotte, more than $200 million for Charlotte-area improvements, and $403 million to finish design work between Raleigh and Richmond.

North Carolina has the lead role in a partnership with Virginia to build the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor from Charlotte to Washington. The Southeast plan calls for top speeds of 90 mph, rising to 110 mph between Raleigh and Richmond. Most of the proposed rail projects would move toward that goal a step at a time, making incremental improvements that allow faster speeds in places where trains must stay below 50 mph now. ...

Most of North Carolina's request, $3.1 billion, would upgrade existing rail service and restore train traffic to the abandoned CSX corridor from Raleigh through Norlina and Petersburg, Va., to Richmond.

All good stuff. But perhaps this last part is equally as important.

The state also seeks $6 million for engineering work on proposed new service in Eastern North Carolina – linking Raleigh to Wilmington by way of Fayetteville and Goldsboro – and between Asheville and Salisbury in Western North Carolina.

“We're taking advantage of the opportunity to build something that works not just to link North Carolina with other states, north and south, but links North Carolina east and west, from the mountains to the sea,” [State rail division director Patrick] Simmons said.

Six structures could become Historic Landmarks

On August 4, the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission will host a public hearing. The discussion is the potential designation of six properties as Raleigh Historic Landmarks.

They are, according to the city's website:

• The Bill and Betty Weber House (1953), located at 606 Transylvania Avenue, is an example of Modernist style as designed by local architect William Weber in collaboration with Modernist master George Matsumoto. The structure was built during the postwar period of rapid economic expansion in Raleigh;
• The Dr. M.T. Pope House (1900), located at 511 S. Wilmington Street, illustrates the presence of a middle and professional class of African-American families along South Wilmington Street. A rare and early example of a front-gable structure of high-quality and stylish workmanship, the house is associated with Dr. M.T. Pope, an African-American physician, and his wife and daughters, each prominent and influential figures in North Carolina;
• The Lemuel and Julia Delany House (1917), located at 210-212 North State Street in the Idlewild subdivision, is significant for its role in Raleigh's African-American community in the early- and mid-twentieth century. The Classic Revival and Craftsman-style house is associated with physician and business leader Lemuel Thackara Delany and his wife, St. Augustine’s College instructor Julia Amaza (Brown) Delany;
• The Paul and Ellen Welles House (1956), located at 3227 Birnamwood Road, was designed by Durham architect Kenneth McCoy Scott and built by the Jim Edwards Company. A dramatic and intact example of the Modernist split-level, its design was influenced by the modern design theory taught by professors at North Carolina State University, School of Design;
• Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church, (1923) is located at 520 Method Road in the Method neighborhood. The Gothic Revival brick church is an example of the stylish churches that anchored Raleigh’s African-American developed suburban communities from the end of the Civil War through the 1950s.; and,
• The Truman and Annie Laurie Williams House (1939), located at 910 Harvey Street, is a rare example of the Norman French style in Raleigh and was designed by Jerome Robert Cerny, a noted architect of residential estate homes in the Chicago area. The landscape was designed by Charles F. Gillette, one of the most prominent twentieth century landscape architects of the Southeast.

What stands out to me is the focus on Modern and African-American homes. Both good choices.

The website states that "[f]ollowing the public hearing, the matter will be referred to the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission to consider final recommendations to the City Council. The City Council may adopt the historic designation at the Sept. 1 meeting."

Great local movie review blog: 280characters

(Reminder: Please be sure to enter our "Share your thoughts on outdoor summer living in Raleigh Contest" and you could win a great prize from AllModern.com!)

Here's a quick shout-out to a new blog by Society contributor Kevin Brewer, 280characters: "movie reviews in two tweets."

The tagline says it all; Kevin is succinctly summing up classic (and not-quite-classic) motion pictures in 280 characters or less, along with info on director and -- in some cases -- the movie link to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB). Here's a sampling of the reviews.

Carrie (1976)
I first saw “Carrie” in college on a brokedown VCR, which played everything in black and white. That version was scarier than the original. But even in color, Stephen King’s novel comes alive and every girl’s fantasy is realized — burning down their senior prom.

***

Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Not a spoof but a smart, comedic homage to zombie movies, specifically George Romero’s “Dead” trilogy. Simon Pegg, who plays Shaun, and director Edgar Wright co-wrote the pitch-perfect script — from “We’re coming to get you, Barbara” to the finale in a cellar.

***

Bruce Almighty (2003)
The third film from director Tom Shadyac and Jim Carrey, a TV reporter who hates his life and thus God (Morgan Freeman). Shadyac wants to say something about selflessness and free will but doesn’t know how. “Liar Liar” suffered from similar failed aspirations.

Contest: Share your thoughts on Raleigh summer living and win a great prize!

The great folks at All Modern are offering up a terrific prize to one lucky Raleigh Philosophical Society contributor -- all for doing nothing more than replying to our question (below).*

All Modern has a great selection of modern furniture and home accessories from many leading designers. Part of CSN Stores, All Modern is just one of over 260 retail sites that offer a diverse array of products from Herman Miller’s popular Aeron Chair to cookware by Rachael Ray.

And to win one of these great products (pictured), all you have to do is give us your thoughts on this question: What is your favorite thing to do/favorite thing about the outdoors in Raleigh during the summer?

That's it. Share your thoughts and the good people at All Modern will randomly select one of you for a prize. We'll keep this contest open until Monday, July 20, 2009. Good luck, and happy blogging!

(Personally, it's hard for me to pick ONE favorite thing to do outdoors in Raleigh during the summer: walking around downtown; working in the yard; going to "the pool"; enjoying outdoor dining ... And, yes, I realize I'm not eligible for the prize ... darn it.)

*This contest is open to readers in the United States only.

Here are your potential prizes:



Blomus Polished Garden Globe Set (prize set includes 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-inch globes)



Blomus Nido Bird Feeder



Blomus Aquo Watering Can



Blomus Greens Watering Can



Droog Bird House



Blomus Orchos Wide Garden Torch




Blomus Green Planter



ZACK Rocco Watering Can

N.C. Symphony has Pac-Man Fever

Apparently the North Carolina Symphony has figured out a way to get gamers and tech geeks interested in classical music. Genius!

The Summerfest series is presenting Play! A Video Game Symphony at Koka Booth in Cary on July 11.

Play! features "award-winning music from a catalogue of blockbuster video game titles and outstanding graphics projected on large screens above the orchestra accompany the scores.

This program highlights memorable moments from the world’s most popular video games such as Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros., Castelvania, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, Halo, World of Warcraft, Silent Hill, and many more."

Click here for more info.

Canes are the second best sports franchise in America

OK, don't get me wrong. I LOVE the Carolina Hurricanes and how the team and the players have become ingrained into the fabric of the Triangle. But I was even taken aback that the Canes were ranked second in ESPN's voting of the Ultimate Team rankings -- based on the "Big Four" of MLB, NBA, NFL and the NHL.

From the site:

The eight major categories that make up the Ultimate Standings were created based on feedback from fans about what they want most from their favorite teams (click here for a more detailed account of the method to our madness.) The categories:

Bang For The Buck (BNG): Wins during the past three years (regular season plus postseason) per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules.

Fan Relations (FRL): Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management.

Ownership (OWN): Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community.

Affordability (AFF): Price of tickets, parking and concessions.

Stadium Experience (STX): Quality of arena and game-day promotions as well as friendliness of environment.

Players (PLA): Effort on the field and likability off it.

Coaching (CCH): Strength of on-field leadership.

Title Track (TTR): Championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans.

Based on that critiera, the Canes came in just behind the Angels but ahead of -- ready for this? -- the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Red Wings. Go back and read that last sentence.

The Canes came in at No. 17 last year.

Here's ESPN's take on the Canes:

Surprised that the Canes are an ice chip (.01 point) away from topping our list? Fans from this unconventional hockey market aren't. In fact, they ­embrace their underdog role, although references to Hartford South still rankle ("When was the last time you heard the Avalanche being referred to as the 'Nordique-Avs'?" complained a poster on canescountry.com). What doesn't rankle is the wallet- and fan-friendly Hurricane Experience. After all, what's better than an elite team that loves you back at a bargain-basement price? Not much. Even before this spring's playoff run, which included two Game 7 road wins, the Hurricanes offered an "Ice Your Price" plan that guaranteed a two-year freeze on season-ticket costs. As it was, the Canes' average ticket price of $38.38 was already fifth lowest in the NHL, and only one (the Blues) of the three teams with cheaper ducats made the playoffs. As for the requited love, PR chief Mike Sundheim says the team prides itself on making players accessible to the community. Practices at the RBC Center are open to the public, and weekend workouts draw hundreds of fans. Best of all, players stick around afterward to sign autographs. Even visitors are impressed by the Canes-Caniacs love affair. "They know that they are no longer a bandwagon mob," blogged one Bruins supporter who road-tripped to Canes country during Boston's unhappy conference semis, "and they want everyone to know it." Thanks to the team's showing in our Ultimate Standings, everybody does.

Hamilton an All-Star ... again

Josh Hamilton may have a bad abdomen, but his popularity is perfectly intact. The Raleigh native was picked by Major League Baseball fans to start the All-Star Game for the second straight year despite not playing a game since early June.He finished third in fan voting among AL outfielders behind Jason Bay and Ichiro Suzuki.

"It's ... definitely an honor," Hamilton told the Associated Press on Sunday from Oklahoma City, where he was playing in a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks. "I have mixed feelings. I don't personally feel like I deserve to go, but the fans voted me in, so I'm really happy about that."

Hamilton is expected to be back with the Rangers during a three-game road series with the Angels that begins tonight.

"The physical part of the rehab is good," Hamilton said. "I'm trying to do some things with my swing to get back on track. If I wasn't making progress every day, I'd be worried, but it's going good."

Happy Fourth!

We at the Society once again wish all of our readers and participants a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend. For the 98 percent of the Triangle population heading to the coast, be safe out there.

For the rest of you, please consider sticking around the Capital City for some free independence celebratin'! From the N&O ...

A Fourth of July celebration will be held at the State Capitol and will include musical performances, historical and military displays, re-enactors and activities for children.

The Saturday event will run from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

At 11:45 a.m., those who fell in the Vietnam War and all remaining POW/MIA military personnel will be honored and remembered in a brief memorial service held at the N.C. Vietnam Memorial on the Capitol lawn.

At noon, the annual "Salute to Independence" will begin at the 1840 State Capitol's east front with a reading of "The Declaration of Independence."

This will be followed by the placement of floral tributes to mark the 1775-1781 War for Independence and America's successive wars.

In the spirit of the holiday, I once again leave you with snippets from some of our forefathers' brilliantly-penned masterpieces.

"... That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self-governing Association, under the control of no power other than that of our God and the General Government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual cooperation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor. ..."

-Mecklenburg Declaration of Indpendence, Charlotte, May 20, 1775

"... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ..."

-Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"... The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and successes. ..."

-President George Washington's Farewell Address, September 17, 1796

No slowin' down ... yet

The economy may be in shambles, and people can't sell their homes, but Raleigh and Cary were still among the 10 fastest-growing American cities last year, new census figures show. However, next year's numbers may be telling.

"As of July 2008, Cary ranked third among cities with 100,000 people or more. Its growth rate of nearly 7 percent came in behind only New Orleans and Round Rock, Texas, near Austin," said McClatchy.

"Raleigh ranked eighth, with a growth rate of 3.8 percent. ...

"The numbers, released today, are another confirmation that the Triangle's growth continued even as the economy began to slow. But the state must wait to learn how it has fared in the severe recession that has gripped North Carolina and the nation in the past year. ...

"State demographer Jennifer Song said that the influx of newcomers that has driven North Carolina's boom for the past 15 years likely has slowed since the census data were collected. ...

"Song said the state will continue to grow, because its birth rate is almost double its death rate. More than 1 million babies were born in North Carolina in the year that ended in mid-2008, while 600,000 people died."

Nationally, New Orleans can claim the largest long-term loss in population -- but the greatest short-term gain.

"New Orleans lost more than half its residents during the deluge [of Hurricane Katrina]. Few large U.S. cities have ever had to cope with a disaster on that scale. Since then, it has been one of the country's fastest growing cities," said CNN.

"New Orleans is now growing rapidly. Its population is up 8.2% in the 12 months that ended July 1, 2008, gaining 23,740 people to 311,853, according to the Census Bureau. That still leaves it well below its pre-storm population of 484,674."